120 Types of Black Color (2023)

Anna Mar, updated on June 30, 2023

Black is the darkest color that results from the absence or absorption of visible light. It is often argued that black is not a color because it has no hue or wavelength of light. However, color is the result of human perception and people commonly perceive black as a color. Black is associated with night and has historically been viewed as a serious, authoritative, pious and solemn color. For example, in Europe, black has been viewed as the most formal and respectful color of dress since the 15th century. The following are common black and blackish colors.

Black
#000000

Very Dark Blue
#000023

Warm Black
#000d0d

Void
#010207

Very Dark Green
#031701

Shadow Purple
#040008

Slate Black
#040707

Deepest Sea
#040714

Heavy Grey
#050505

Wet Suit
#080706

Reversed Grey
#080808

Liquorice
#0a0502

Black Tie
#0a0e0f

Very Dark Purple
#0f0012

Stout
#0f0b0a

Winter Waves
#102126

Glossy Black
#110011

Space Grey
#110022

Sombre Grey
#111016

Dark Water
#112222

Gothic Grape
#120321

Tornado Cloud
#121213

Very Dark Brown
#140100

Viper Black
#151802

Tea Bag
#161311

Pot Black
#161616

Black Pearl
#161b1c

Winter Storm
#162124

Cynical Black
#171717

Black Soap
#19443c

Dark Raisin
#1a0f0f

Metropolis
#1a1a1a

Alien Black
#1a2228

Black Chocolate
#1b1811

Walnut Hull
#1b1813

Night Shadow
#1c1c1c

Treasure Island
#1c1d17

Dark Chocolate
#1d0002

Black Coffee
#1d1817

Black Pearl
#1e272c

Iconic Black
#1f1f1f

Wind Cave
#1f2024

Reflecting Pond
#203e4a

Turbulent Sea
#212a30

Yacht Club Black
#222627

Kurobeni
#23191e

Young Night
#232323

Stellar
#23323f

Black Chestnut
#252321

Vulcan Burgundy
#26181a

Black Steel
#262335

Blue Charcoal
#262b2f

Strong Coffee
#282922

Moonlit Ocean
#293b4d

Tap Shoe
#2a2b2d

Liquorice Green
#2a4041

Salem Black
#2b0202

Blackstrap Molasses
#2b2523

Peacoat
#2b2e43

Woodsmoke
#2b3230

Root Beer
#2d1d1a

Parisian Night
#323441

Carbon
#333333

Charcoal
#343837

Midnight Navy
#34414e

Black Plum
#362b32

Coffee Bean
#362d26

Dark Grey
#363737

Summer Night
#36576a

Dark Royal Brown
#392925

Rich Mocha
#3a2921

Black Olive
#3b3c36

Dark Rosewood
#3c0006

Kimono Grey
#3d4c51

Ship Grey
#3e3a44

Volcanic Sand
#404048

Napoleon
#404149

Blue Ash
#414654

Blackened Brown
#442200

Black Truffle
#463d3e

Raw Chocolate
#471700

Pig Iron
#484848

Gravel
#4a4b46

Sooty Willow Bamboo
#4d4b3a

Squid Ink
#4d4e5c

Black Bean
#4e4b4a

Slate
#516572

Raisin
#524144

Heavy Charcoal
#565350

Stormy Grey
#58646d

Off Black
#595652

Zombie
#595a5c

Slate Grey
#59656d

Tarmac
#5a5348

Black Sand
#5b4e4b

Pencil Lead
#5c6274

Black Walnut
#5e4f46

Iron
#5e5e5e

Volcanic Glass
#615c60

Mirage Blue
#636c77

Midnight Grey
#666a6d

Volcanic Ash
#6f7678

Steel Wool
#777777

2023 Additions

The following black colors were added as notable in the past year.

Obsidian
#010003

Aura Black
#010103

Onyx
#030106

Velvet Black
#050026

Black Metal
#060606

Black Licorice
#080004

Jet Black
#0a0a0a

Timeless Black
#0b031a

Painter's Black
#0b1c26

Matte Black
#0e1405

Satin Black
#120012

Emerald Black
#122223

Black Magic
#261e13

Midnight Black
#262626

Platinum Black
#2f2f34

Graphite
#323232

Why Black is a Color

Color is a characteristic of human visual perception as opposed to a physical property of light. As such, it is unhelpful to think of color in purely technical terms as wavelengths of light. Human color perception differs greatly from wavelengths of light due to the way the brain processes color such as color constancy whereby humans perceive the color of objects to be fixed when they are in fact varying with conditions. Color perception is also influenced by language and culture. Black is commonly treated as a color in most, if not all, languages and cultures. As such, it is considered a color.

Black & Color Models

In an additive color model, black is the background color and it is produced by an absence of color.

In a subtractive color model, white is the presumed background and black is produced with a mix of all primary colors.

Black & Color Wheels

Black does not typically appear as a section of a color wheel because it is not a primary color or a color of the rainbow. Likewise, composite colors such as brown and white are often not depicted on a color wheel. Color wheels that show mixed hues and tones may show black as an outer or inner layer of each color section.

Overview: Black Color
Type	Colors Non-spectral Color
Definition	The darkest color that results from the absence or absorption of visible light.
Composition	Absence of light or Combinations of dark hues that absorb sunlight
Primary Color	No
Present in Sunlight (color of rainbow)	No
Positive Associations	Formal Professional Serious Authoritative Pious Solemn
Negative Associations	Fear due to its association with the night and spaces that lack light. It should be noted that the night can also be viewed as a positive thing.
Special Uses	Formal wear Materials designed for thermal protection. Black radiates excess heat better than all other colors. For example, the underbelly of the space shuttle was black to reduce heat on reentry into the atmosphere.
Complementary Color	White
Color Temperature	Cool
Related Concepts	Colors » Color » Hue » Cold Logic » Japanese Colors » Primary Colors »