True Black is a true neutral — the rare paint color that doesn't push warm or cool, which makes it forgiving across mixed-lighting rooms and existing palettes. At LRV 3 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Skip it only if you specifically want a clear warm or cool bias — a true neutral stays intentionally undecided, which is the whole point.
Ref. #2F2F30 · 438-7DB
True Black
3%LRV Value
True Black Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy True Black (438-7DB)? It's a dark neutral gray — hex #2F2F30, LRV 3. The closest cross-brand equivalent to True Black is Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black — a near-identical match on the wall, with Valspar Tomcat and Sherwin-Williams Caviar also close. With an LRV of 3, True Black creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. True Black is a true neutral — pair with any wood, any metal, any trim color. Off-white trim works in most homes; brushed nickel or matte black hardware both read well across spaces. As a deeper neutral, True Black reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. True neutrals read consistently across lighting conditions, which is why they're popular base colors. They inherit a faint warm cast under 2700K and a cool cast under 4000K, but never dramatically. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview True Black in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to True Black
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With True Black
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
True Black
#2F2F30
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#493A58
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for True Black
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
True Black Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
Other Dutch Boy colors close to True Black.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
True Black — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match True Black from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to True Black are Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Tomcat by Valspar (a near-identical match), Caviar by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting True Black's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of True Black?
True Black has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 2.9, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with True Black
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for True Black depends on the room. Here's how to choose.