Paint Color Consultants

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

No. G18

Smelt Black by Farrow & Ball is a deep near-black with a cool charcoal undertone, registering an LRV of 23.5. Despite its darkness, it reads as a rich neutral rather than a flat black, which makes it practical for accent walls, front doors, cabinetry, or exterior woodwork where depth is needed without appearing stark. The charcoal base keeps it grounded in cooler light conditions.

It pairs cleanly with All White and Wimborne White for high-contrast trim, and sits well alongside Railings, Hague Blue, and Studio Green in layered darker palettes.
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Brand

Farrow & Ball

Code

No. G18

Smelt 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 Smelt Black under artificial light

Natural Lighting

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

Technical Specifications

Undertones

Type

Red

Strength

Very Low

Temperature

neutral

Hue Angle

0°

Red Family

Lightness

24%

Dark

Saturation

0%

Near Neutral

LRV

23.5
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
#3C3C3C
RGB Decimal
60, 60, 60
RGB Percent
23.5%, 23.5%, 23.5%
HSL
0.0, 0.0%, 23.5%
HSV
0.0, 0.0%, 23.5%
CMYK
0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 76.5%
YIQ
60.0, -0.0, -0.0
XYZ
4.29, 4.52, 4.92
CIE Lab
25.32, 0.00, -0.00
CIE Luv
25.32, 0.00, -0.00
Hunter Lab
21.26, 0.00, -0.00
Decimal
3947580

Coordinating Colors and Color Palettes

Darker Shades

Monochromatic dark

Smelt BlackBlack MagicPitch BlackNoblesse Oblige

Lighter Shades

Monochromatic light

Smelt BlackGrayNature WalkSleepy Kitten

Complementary

Opposite on color wheel

Smelt BlackStarless SkyGreenblackMayo Teal

Analogous

Adjacent colors

Smelt BlackOnyxBlack EleganceBlack

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

Smelt Black

Farrow & Ball

Pitch Black

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Glidden

Starless Sky

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Behr

Limousine Leather

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Valspar

Caviar

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Valspar

Black Heron

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Black Jack

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Black Iron

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Behr

Carbon

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Blacktop

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Black Berry

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Toucan Black

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Ebony King

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Valspar

Magpie

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Behr

Black

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Plum Martini

Farrow & Ball

Smelt Black

Benjamin Moore

Black Panther