Ebony Slate vs Basically Black
Where Ebony Slate belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Basically Black is a Dulux color. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (9 vs 9), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. Ebony Slate runs blue and purple while Basically Black is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 3.2 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Ebony Slate vs Basically Black Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ebony Slate on one side and Basically Black 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 Ebony Slate comparisons
See how Ebony Slate stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 9, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Ebony Slate reads slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 9, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 9, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 9, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 9, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (9 vs 4) makes Ebony Slate the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 9), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 9, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 9, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 9, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 9, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 25 vs 9, Treron is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 9), opening up a space where Ebony Slate encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 9, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 24 vs 9, Cement grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 9, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.