Black Tar vs Agreeable Gray
Black Tar (Benjamin Moore) and Agreeable Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Black Tar reads as grey, while Agreeable Gray reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 55-point LRV gap — 60 for Agreeable Gray vs 6 for Black Tar — means Agreeable Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Black Tar leans blue, Agreeable Gray reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 58.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Tar vs Agreeable Gray in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Black Tar and Agreeable Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Agreeable Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Tar.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Agreeable Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Agreeable Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Black Tar vs Agreeable Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Tar on one side and Agreeable Gray on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Black Tar comparisons
See how Black Tar stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
