Black Tar vs Nocturnal Green

Black TarBenjamin MoorevsNocturnal GreenValsparΔE 3.9Noticeable difference

Black Tar (Benjamin Moore) and Nocturnal Green (Valspar) come from different manufacturers. Black Tar reads as grey, while Nocturnal Green reads as blue-green — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 6 vs 3 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 3.9 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Black Tar vs Nocturnal Green in Real Spaces

1 real room side by side. Black Tar and Nocturnal Green are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

Black TarBenjamin Moore Black Tar shop exterior

@paulpatropulos

Nocturnal GreenNocturnal Green house exterior paint review

@irenegrealtor

Color Details

Black Tar
Benjamin Moore · 2126-10
Hex#38393A
LRV5.7
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2126-10
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
Nocturnal Green
Valspar · 5011-1
Hex#2d3435
LRV3.3
BrandValspar
Number5011-1
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Black Tar vs Nocturnal Green Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Tar on one side and Nocturnal Green on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.

White Dove
Black Tar
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Black Tar
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Black Tar
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Purbeck Stone
Black Tar
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Black Tar
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Black Tar
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Black Tar
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Black Tar
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Black Tar
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Black Tar
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Black Tar
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Black Tar
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Black Tar
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Cement grey
Black Tar
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Black Tar
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Piazza
Black Tar
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Black Tar
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Black Tar
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane is the lighter choice

Senses
Black Tar
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Black Tar
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Nearly identical in tone

Washed Linen
Black Tar
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Black Tar
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Black Tar
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Black Tar
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Classic Silver
Black Tar
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Black Tar
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Black Tar
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Black Tar
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Black Tar
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Black Tar
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter