Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 Estate Emulsion tin and open lid

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 in a room setting

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 paint in an open tin

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 Dead Flat tin and open lid

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.256

FamilyBlack

PrimerDark Tones

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.256

FamilyBlack

PrimerDark Tones

SKU: 5029496012729

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 Paint

Name: Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 Paint
Brand: Farrow & Ball
SKU: 5029496012729
Price: 34.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

£34.00 Inc VAT

£28.33 Exc VAT

Pitch Black is Farrow & Ball's true black, strong and uncomplicated in all lights with an almost velvet depth. Farrow & Ball call it indispensable for ironwork and woodwork, and bold enough for walls. Read More

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Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.256

FamilyBlack

PrimerDark Tones

Product Description

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 is a true black, as pure a black as you can get, and strong and uncomplicated in all lights. Named after the dark, sticky coal tar residue often used in roofing, it has a deep, almost velvet quality.

Farrow & Ball pair Pitch Black with Dimpse as its complementary colour. Their suggested schemes combine it with Cornforth White and Purbeck Stone, Mole's Breath and Pigeon, or Wevet and Ammonite.

What colour is Farrow & Ball Pitch Black?

Pitch Black is a true black. Farrow & Ball describe it as about as pure a black as you can get, strong and uncomplicated in all lights, with an almost velvet depth.

Where to use Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256

Farrow & Ball call Pitch Black indispensable for ironwork and woodwork, and suggest it for walls too if you are feeling daring. Like All White at the other end of their palette, they say it is easy to understand.

Choose Estate Emulsion or Modern Emulsion for walls and ceilings, Dead Flat for a completely flat look across walls and woodwork, and Flat Eggshell, Modern Eggshell or Full Gloss for woodwork and cabinets. For exteriors, choose Exterior Masonry or Exterior Eggshell for breathable, weather-resistant performance. Casein Distemper is also available in this colour.

Colours that go with Pitch Black

Farrow & Ball pair Pitch Black with Dimpse as its complementary colour for ceilings and trim. Their suggested colour schemes combine it with:

Suggested scheme

Pitch Black No.256 Cornforth White No.228Accent colour

Purbeck Stone No.275Trim colour

Suggested scheme

Pitch Black No.256 Wevet No.273Accent colour

Ammonite No.274Trim colour

Suggested scheme

Pitch Black No.256 Mole's Breath No.276Accent colour

Pigeon No.25Trim colour

Buy Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 from Rabart

Rabart is an authorised Farrow & Ball stockist, with decorating centres across Wales and the South West of England. All our stores have Farrow & Ball paint mixing machines, so you can usually have Pitch Black mixed in your chosen finish and ready to take home the same day, subject to availability of your chosen finish. Alternatively, order online in a range of finishes and sizes from 750ml to 5L, or try a Farrow & Ball sample pot first.

Specifications by finish

Coverage and recoat times vary by finish. The figures below are from Farrow & Ball's product data sheets for normal conditions; cooler or more humid environments may extend drying times, and darker shades may need an additional coat.

Finish	Best for	Sheen	Coverage per litre	Touch dry	Recoat	Application
Interior Performance Finishes
Dead Flat	Walls & ceilings, woodwork & metal	2%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Modern Emulsion	Walls & ceilings	7%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Flat Eggshell	Wood, metal, concrete floors, kitchen & bathroom cabinets	20%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Modern Eggshell	Wood, metal, concrete floors, kitchen & bathroom cabinets	40%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Full Gloss	Interior & exterior wood and metal, front doors, skirting boards	95%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush or roller, airless or HVLP spray (roller not recommended on large areas such as walls)
Exterior Performance Finishes
Exterior Masonry	Brick, render, concrete, terracotta	2%	Up to 8 m²	2 hours	5 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Exterior Eggshell	Exterior wood and metal, front doors, cladding, fences	20%	Up to 13 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Full Gloss	Interior & exterior wood and metal, front doors, skirting boards	95%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush or roller, airless or HVLP spray (roller not recommended on large areas such as walls)
The Estate Range
Estate Emulsion	Walls & ceilings in low-traffic areas	2%	Up to 14 m²	2 hours	2 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Casein Distemper	Walls & ceilings in low-traffic areas, historic homes, surfaces that need to breathe	2%	Up to 13 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush (not suitable for spraying; roller not recommended on large areas)

Dead Flat

Key Information

CoverageUp to 12 m² per litre
Touch dry2 hours
Recoat4 hours
Application methodBrush, roller or airless spray
Clean-upWarm soapy water
Finish2% sheen (dead flat matt)

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256

Colour story

Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 in real homes

See how Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256 looks across interior walls, woodwork, exterior facades and more. Click any image to view full size.

Choosing the right Farrow & Ball finish

Every Farrow & Ball colour is available in a range of finishes. The right choice depends on the surface you're painting and how much wear it'll see.

Estate Emulsion

2% sheen

The classic chalky, very matt finish for walls and ceilings in low-traffic rooms.

Modern Emulsion

7% sheen

Washable and mould-resistant, ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and family rooms.

Dead Flat

2% sheen

Same matt depth as Estate Emulsion but scrubbable and scuff-resistant. Suitable for walls, woodwork and metal.

Flat Eggshell

20% sheen

F&B's tough new low-sheen finish for interior wood, metal and concrete, including kitchen cabinets, skirtings and floors.

Modern Eggshell

40% sheen

A harder-wearing mid-sheen for woodwork, cabinetry and floors.

Full Gloss

95% sheen

A high-shine finish for interior and exterior wood and metal, including front doors.

Exterior Eggshell

20% sheen

Protects exterior wood and metal with added algae and fungal protection.

Exterior Masonry

2% sheen

A highly breathable matt finish for brick, render and concrete.

Casein Distemper

2% sheen

A breathable, traditional distemper for heritage interiors. Ideal for lime plaster walls and ceilings in low-traffic rooms.

Soft Distemper

2% sheen

A soft, powdery traditional finish. Particularly suited to detailed interior plasterwork and period mouldings.

Limewash

2% sheen

A traditional breathable finish for solid lime render exterior walls, and interior walls and ceilings.

Not sure which to choose? Order a sample pot first to test the colour in your own space and light.

Shop Sample Pots

Product Specifications

Brand	Farrow & Ball
Type	Designer Paint
Suitable for	Brush or roller for most finishes. Full Gloss and Casein Distemper are not recommended by roller on large areas
Base	Water-based
Key features	Low odour, low VOC, A+ indoor air quality rating, toy-safe (EN 71-3), 100% water-based
Thinning	Ready to use. On new or bare plaster, Farrow & Ball recommend a 25% diluted coat of the emulsion or Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat first
Number of coats	2 coats recommended. Darker colours may need more
SKU
GTIN / Barcode

Frequently asked questions

What colour is Farrow & Ball Pitch Black?

Pitch Black is a true black. Farrow & Ball describe it as as pure a black as you can get, strong and uncomplicated in all lights, with an almost velvet quality.

What colour goes with Farrow & Ball Pitch Black?

Farrow & Ball suggest Dimpse as its complementary colour. Their recommended schemes pair Pitch Black with Cornforth White and Purbeck Stone, Mole's Breath and Pigeon, or Wevet and Ammonite.

Where can I use Pitch Black?

Farrow & Ball say Pitch Black is indispensable for ironwork and woodwork, and can be used on walls if you are feeling daring.

Where does the name Pitch Black come from?

Farrow & Ball named it after the dark, sticky residue of coal tar that was often used in roofing.

Which primer should I use with Pitch Black No.256?

Farrow & Ball recommend their Dark Tones Primer & Undercoat for Pitch Black. Choose the Wall & Ceiling, Wood or Metal version to suit the surface.