Pitch Black vs Dock Blue
Pitch Black (Farrow & Ball) and Dock Blue (Little Greene) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Pitch Black belongs to the grey family and Dock Blue to the blue family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 5 vs 4 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Pitch Black leans neutral, Dock Blue reads blue — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 9.2 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.
Pitch Black vs Dock Blue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Pitch Black and Dock Blue 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.
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. Pitch Black reads more restrained here, while Dock Blue adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Pitch Black vs Dock Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Pitch Black on one side and Dock Blue 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 Pitch Black comparisons
See how Pitch Black stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 5, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 6 vs 5), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 5, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 5, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 5, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
With LRVs of 5 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 55 vs 5, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (13 vs 5) makes Bancha the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 5, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
Artichoke reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 5, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 5, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 5, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (12 vs 5) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
A 3-point LRV gap (8 vs 5) makes Duck Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 5, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (12 vs 5) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 5, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 5), opening up a space where Pitch Black encloses it.