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Shades of Black: 11 Black Color Names With Hex Codes

From ebony to pure black, here are the different shades of black, each with its name and code: some lean blue, brown or green. Click a swatch to copy its HEX, RGB or CMYK code, or make your own shade with the sliders.

Swatch 500

Black 500

Closest named shade: Jet black #343434

  • HEX #323232
  • RGB rgb(50, 50, 50)
  • CMYK 0, 0, 0, 80
  • HSL hsl(0, 0%, 20%)

Make your own shade

#323232 #323232
Open as a gradient
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  • Codes free to use
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Softer Shades of Black

Softened blacks, almost dark grey: ebony, outer space, black olive.

Deep Black Shades

Everyday blacks with a subtle tint: onyx, jet black, raisin black.

Darkest Shades of Black

The densest blacks, all the way to the pure black of a screen.

List of Black Color Names and Hex Codes

Every shade of black on this page with its HEX, RGB and CMYK codes, copied in one click.

Shade HEX RGB CMYK
Ebony #555D50 rgb(85, 93, 80) 9, 0, 14, 64
Outer space #414A4C rgb(65, 74, 76) 14, 3, 0, 70
Black olive #3B3C36 rgb(59, 60, 54) 2, 0, 10, 76
Onyx #353839 rgb(53, 56, 57) 7, 2, 0, 78
Jet black #343434 rgb(52, 52, 52) 0, 0, 0, 80
Raisin black #242124 rgb(36, 33, 36) 0, 8, 0, 86
Eerie black #1B1B1B rgb(27, 27, 27) 0, 0, 0, 89
Licorice #1A1110 rgb(26, 17, 16) 0, 35, 38, 90
Smoky black #100C08 rgb(16, 12, 8) 0, 25, 50, 94
Rich black #010B13 rgb(1, 11, 19) 95, 42, 0, 93
Pure black #000000 rgb(0, 0, 0) 0, 0, 0, 100
Shades of black chart from softest to darkest with hex codes
The full chart as an image: the 11 swatches and the 11 named shades, with their codes.

What Colors Make Black?

In paint, black comes from mixing the three primaries (red, yellow, blue) or two dark, opposite colors such as ultramarine blue and burnt umber. This mixed black looks livelier than black from the tube. On a screen, black is simply the absence of light.

  • Black (three primaries)

    red + yellow + blue

    Dark red, yellow and blue in similar amounts make black. If it leans toward one color, add a little of its opposite.

  • Chromatic black

    ultramarine blue + burnt umber

    A painters’ favorite: a livelier black than the one from the tube, warmer or cooler depending on the amounts.

  • Deep black

    dark green + carmine red

    Two dark, opposite colors cancel out into a very dense black.

  • Rich black (printing)

    cyan + magenta + yellow + black

    In printing, cyan, magenta and yellow are added to black ink for a deeper black than black ink alone.

Depending on your supplies

Colored pencils

With pencils, you don’t mix: you layer. Lay down the lightest shade in light strokes, then the darker one on top, without pressing. To lighten black, finish with a white pencil; to darken it, add a touch of grey or of its opposite color.

Markers

Water-based markers don’t blend well: pick the right shade straight away. With alcohol markers, go over a darker shade with a lighter one while it is still wet to soften the transition.

Watercolor

Mix on the palette, not on the paper. For a lighter shade, add water rather than white: the white of the paper does the lightening.

Paint

Acrylic or gouache: always add the dark color to the light one, a little at a time. Write down the amounts so you can find your shade again.

Black Color Palettes

Four palettes taken from the chart, ready for a coloring page or a design. Click a color to copy its code.

Printable Black Color Chart to Color In

A printable sheet to practice with: recreate each shade of black with colored pencils or paint, box by box.

The printable sheet

One Letter page: the numbered chart with its codes, an empty row to recreate each shade, and a strip for your tests.

Try them on a coloring page

Three shades from the chart on a real drawing: the lightest in the center, the darkest at the edge.

Want to do it by hand? Pick a drawing to print or color online.

Frequently asked questions

Is black a color?

In light, black is the absence of color. In paint and drawing it is very much a color: a pigment with its own warmer or cooler shades.

What is the hex code for black?

Pure black is #000000, or rgb(0, 0, 0). Websites often prefer a softer black, such as jet black (#343434).

How do you make black paint?

Mix ultramarine blue with burnt umber, or the three primaries in similar amounts. Adjust with a touch of whichever color is missing.

How many shades of black are there?

More than you might think: a black can lean blue, brown or green. This page gathers 11 of them with their names and codes.

What colors go with black?

White for bold contrast, gold for elegance, a bright color (red, yellow) for a strong accent.