Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

No. 9920

Grate Black is a deep, warm-leaning black with subtle brown undertones visible in strong light. With an LRV of 26.4, it absorbs most light and reads as a dense charcoal-black on walls, which makes it practical for accent walls, cabinetry, front doors, and metalwork. It holds up in both modern and older-style interiors without appearing flat, because the warm undertone gives it some visual depth.

White Tie and Pointing work as trim colors to frame it cleanly, Down Pipe and Railings can be used alongside it in tonal dark schemes, and All White provides a harder contrast when needed.

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Brand

Farrow & Ball

Code

No. 9920

Grate Black in Different Light

Light temperature is measured in Kelvin: a warm 2700K bulb pulls colors toward yellow, while 5000K daylight reads cooler and truer. Check the color at the time of day you actually use the room.

Artificial Lighting

Bedroom scene to simulate Farrow & Ball Grate Black under artificial light

Light Temperature: 2700K

Natural Lighting

Living room scene to simulate Farrow & Ball Grate Black under natural light

Light Temperature: 4500K

Technical Specifications

Undertones

Type

Orange

Strength

Very Low

Temperature

neutral

Hue Angle

30°

Orange Family

Lightness

26%

Dark

Saturation

Near Neutral

LRV

26.4

0%100%

Very Dark

Dark

Medium

Light

Very Light

White

LRV measures how much light a color reflects, from 0 (black) to 100 (pure white). Below about 50 a color needs good lighting to avoid going flat, 60 and up helps brighten a room, and most whites sit above 80.

Color Position

Saturation →

Lightness →

Color Codes

HEX

#454341

RGB Decimal

69, 67, 65

RGB Percent

27.1%, 26.3%, 25.5%

HSL

30.0, 3.0%, 26.3%

HSV

30.0, 5.8%, 27.1%

CMYK

0.0%, 2.9%, 5.8%, 72.9%

YIQ

67.4, 1.8, -0.2

XYZ

5.42, 5.66, 5.81

CIE Lab

28.54, 0.41, 1.51

CIE Luv

28.54, 1.18, 1.66

Hunter Lab

23.79, 0.27, 0.96

Decimal

4539201

Coordinating Colors and Color Palettes

Darker Shades

Monochromatic dark

Grate Black Black Mocha Onyx Sealskin

Lighter Shades

Monochromatic light

Grate Black Stone's Throw Dorian Gray Smokey Wings

Complementary

Opposite on color wheel

Grate Black Off-Black Mopboard Black Laguna Blue

Analogous

Adjacent colors

Grate Black Iron Ore Arrowhead Broadway

Closest Paint Matches

Cross-brand matches are close, never exact. Each brand uses different bases and sheens, so sample before you buy gallons.

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Sherwin Williams

Iron Ore

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Behr

Black Suede

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Behr

Broadway

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Glidden

Onyx

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Benjamin Moore

Deep Caviar

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Valspar

Arrowhead

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Glidden

Black Magic

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Valspar

Safari Brown

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Sherwin Williams

Darkroom

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Benjamin Moore

Notre Dame

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Valspar

Ebony Keys

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Sherwin Williams

Sealskin

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Behr

Off Broadway

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Glidden

Phantom Mist

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Behr

Sarsaparilla

Farrow & Ball

Grate Black

Behr

Blackout