Benjamin Moore Universal Black 2118-10
Contentsshow +hide -
- Universal Black for bedroom (3 photos)
- Universal Black for living room (1 photo)
- Benjamin Moore Universal Black for bathroom (3 photos)
- Benjamin Moore 2118-10 on kitchen cabinets (1 photo)
- Benjamin Moore Universal Black reviews (2 photos)
- What are Benjamin Moore Universal Black undertones?
- Is Universal Black 2118-10 cool or warm?
- How light temperature affects on Universal Black
- Monochromatic color scheme
- Complementary color scheme
- Color comparison and matching
- LRV of Universal Black 2118-10
- Color codes
- Color equivalents
| Official page: | Universal Black 2118-10 |
| Code: | 2118-10 |
| Name: | Universal Black |
| Brand: | Benjamin Moore |
What color is Benjamin Moore Universal Black?
Benjamin Moore Universal Black 2118-10 is a near-black charcoal with a closely balanced gray cast rather than a stark, inky appearance. Its low-light value gives walls, doors, or cabinetry strong definition, while the subtle softness in the color keeps it from reading as pure black. In bright daylight, it may show more of its charcoal character; at night or in shadow, it settles into a deeper black-gray. Use it on kitchen islands, interior doors, built-ins, or a compact powder room for a grounded architectural look. Pair Universal Black with warm white trim, pale oak, brushed brass, or natural stone to bring out contrast without making the room feel overly severe.
Universal Black for bedroom (3 photos)
We’ve hand-picked a beautiful collection of photos of this amazing grey shade used in real bedrooms. Take a look and imagine how this wonderful warm dark paint color could transform your own bedroom space.
@nicole.facciuto.design
@nicole.facciuto.design
@bohemiangeneral
Universal Black for living room
Check out this stunning dark color used in real living rooms. Explore how this grey shade can create a unique space
@alethamarshalldesign
Benjamin Moore 2118-10 for bathroom (3 photos)
Looking for inspiration for your dream bathroom renovation project? These beautiful handpicked photos will show you this delightfully warm dark grey real bathrooms.
@this_foursquare_life
@this_foursquare_life
@this_foursquare_life
Benjamin Moore 2118-10 on kitchen cabinets
Want a stylish kitchen? View real-life photo examples of this fascinating warm grey hue is paired with backsplashes, countertops, and hardware.
@2nd_story_designs
Benjamin Moore Universal Black reviews (2 photos)
View the photos of real spaces painted with this grey that were not included in specific categories. Close-ups, painted furniture, storages and dressers, hallways, stairs and ceilings.
@brianinteriors
@brianinteriors
Try before you buy
100% accurate
reusable paint samples
Peel, stick,
and repeat
Twice painted
with real paint
Next day
delivery
What are Benjamin Moore Universal Black undertones?
Universal Black is a deep, near-neutral near-black. Its chroma is so low that assigning a specific hue-based undertone would be misleading. Because it is close to neutral, nearby surfaces and the color of the light can noticeably change how warm or cool it appears.
HEX value:
RGB code:
53, 52, 53
Is Benjamin Moore Universal Black cool or warm?
warm
cool
With a hue of 300°, this black shade sits right in the neutral zone on the HSL color wheel—neither warm nor cool.
2118-10 Universal Black HSL code: 300, 1%, 21%
Hue - degree on a color wheel from 0 to 360. 0 is red, 120 is green, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is expressed as a percentage. At 0%, it appears as a shade of grey, and at 100%, it is in full color.
Lightness is also a percentage value. 0% is black, and 100% is white.
How light temperature affects Universal Black
Natural Lighting. During the day, natural light shifts from about 2000 K at sunrise/sunset to 5500–6500 K at noon.
In addition, natural-light temperature depends on its direction:
| Direction of sunlight | Visible temp. | Hue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Cool | Bluish | All day |
| East | Warm | Yellow | Before noon |
| West | Warm | Orange-red | After noon |
| South | Warm | Orange-yellow | All day |
Artificial Lighting. When choosing bulbs, pay attention to their color temperature in Kelvins.
Use the slider to see how this black shade looks under different lighting:
4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Benjamin Moore Universal Black:
Monochromatic color scheme
This scheme consists of various shades, tints, and tones of a single color. While it offers a perfect combination of hues, without accent décor it may become monotonous.
Lighter shades
2118-10
Universal Black
Complementary color scheme
This color scheme is a combination of two shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between these colors creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect. For the color Universal Black with a purple hue, complementary colors are those with a yellow hue close to 120, such as Benjamin Moore Garden Path and Silver Crest.
LRV of Universal Black
Universal Black has an LRV of 5.26% and refers to Dark colors which means that this color almost does not reflect light. Why LRV is important?
Light Reflectance Value measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from a painted surface.
Simply put, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the brighter the room you will get.
The scale goes from 0% (absolute black, absorbing all light) to 100% (pure white, reflecting all light).
Act like a pro: When choosing paint with an LRV of 5.26%, pay attention to your bulbs' brightness. Light brightness is measured in lumens. The lower the paint's LRV, the higher lumen level you need. Every square foot of room needs at least 40 lumens. That means for a 200 ft2 living room you'll need about 8000 lumens of light – e.g., eight 1000 lm bulbs.
Color codes
We have collected almost every possible color code you could ever need.
Not sure what the difference between HEX and RGB is? We break down color models in plain language. Understanding color models
| Format | Code |
|---|---|
| HEX | #353435 |
| RGB Decimal | 53, 52, 53 |
| RGB Percent | 20.78%, 20.39%, 20.78% |
| HSV | Hue: 300° Saturation: 1.89% Value: 20.78% |
| HSL | hsl(300, 1, 21) |
| CMYK | Cyan: 0.0 Magenta: 1.89 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 79.22 |
| YIQ | Y: 52.413 I: 0.275 Q: 0.523 |
| XYZ | X: 3.339 Y: 3.47 Z: 3.861 |
| CIE Lab | L:21.835 a:0.666 b:-0.474 |
| CIE Luv | L:21.835 u:0.446 v:-0.574 |
| Decimal | 3486773 |
| Hunter Lab | 18.628, -0.606, 0.75 |
Color equivalents
2127-10
Twilight Zone
Benjamin Moore
2133-10
Onyx
Benjamin Moore
2120-10
Jet Black
Benjamin Moore
SW 6991
Black Magic
Sherwin Williams
SW 6990
Caviar
Sherwin Williams
2117-10
Carbon Copy
Benjamin Moore
2128-10
Black Beauty
Benjamin Moore
CW-680
Mopboard Black
Benjamin Moore
SW 6258
Tricorn Black
Sherwin Williams
2129-10
Midnight Dream
Benjamin Moore
2126-10
Black Tar
Benjamin Moore
SW 6989
Domino
Sherwin Williams
2132-20
Ebony King
Benjamin Moore
2131-10
Black Satin
Benjamin Moore
2133-20
Black Jack
Benjamin Moore
2119-20
Black Berry
Benjamin Moore
SW 9175
Deep Forest Brown
Sherwin Williams
2127-20
Black Ink
Benjamin Moore
2120-20
Black Iron
Benjamin Moore
SW 6993
Black of Night
Sherwin Williams
