Olive Black works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 9 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Skip it if you want a crisp, cool-modern look, or in rooms with heavy north light that can pull its warmth slightly muddy.
Ref. #5A5545 · 50YY 09/101
Olive Black
9%LRV Value
Olive Black Technical Profile
What color is PPG Olive Black (50YY 09/101)? It's a dark warm gray — hex #5A5545, LRV 9. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Olive Black is Benjamin Moore Dakota Woods Green — a near-identical match on the wall, with Sherwin-Williams Garden Gate and Dutch Boy Gunmetal Green also close. With an LRV of 9, Olive Black creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. As a warm neutral, Olive Black pairs with off-whites for trim, white oak or walnut floors, and brass or warm brushed nickel hardware. Deep green, navy, or terra-cotta all read well as accent colors. As a deeper neutral, Olive 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. Warm neutrals come alive under 2700K bulbs, where their underlying yellow or peach undertones add visible warmth. Under 4000K daylight they read cleaner and slightly cooler. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Olive Black in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Olive Black
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Dakota Woods Green
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Garden Gate
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Gunmetal Green
Dutch Boy
Nearly identical
Grime
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Monogram
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Reduced Green
Farrow & Ball
Nearly identical
Montana Moss
Valspar
Nearly identical
Swiss Brown
Behr
Very similar
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Olive Black
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Olive Black
#5A5545
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#737E54
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Olive Black
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Olive 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 PPG Colors
Other PPG colors close to Olive 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.
Olive Black — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Olive Black from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Olive Black are Dakota Woods Green by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), Garden Gate by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Gunmetal Green by Dutch Boy (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 Olive 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 Olive Black?
Olive Black has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 9.1, 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 Olive 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 Olive Black depends on the room. Here's how to choose.