Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal review (HC-166)

What color is Kendall Charcoal?

Kendall Charcoal (HC-166) is a mid-dark charcoal gray from Benjamin Moore's Historical Colors, described by the brand as a classic charcoal with timeless dependability. With an LRV of 14.61 it is lighter than near-blacks such as Iron Ore (5.5) and Peppercorn (9.7), so it reads as charcoal gray in most rooms, not black.

Kendall Charcoal undertones

Measured, its yellow–blue value is +2.4 and its green–red value −0.4: a balanced gray with only a whisper of warmth. It will not turn brown or blue, though in cool north light the slight green-gray lean can show next to warm wood.

Kendall Charcoal LRV and light

At LRV 14.61 it keeps visible detail even in dimmer rooms, which makes it more forgiving than the near-blacks. Sun lifts it to a medium charcoal outdoors.

Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.

Best uses for Kendall Charcoal

Exteriors

On siding it reads as a classic charcoal from the street, lighter than black and easy to pair with white trim and stone. Benjamin Moore pairs it with the pale Hawthorne Yellow (HC-4), a traditional combination for doors and accents. Check vinyl guidance before going dark.

Kitchen islands and cabinets

Kendall Charcoal gives cabinets depth without the heaviness of black, and suits white quartz, marble and warm wood alike.

Accent walls and built-ins

Its lighter depth makes it a good first dark color for an accent wall, library or built-in, even in rooms with moderate light.

Doors and trim

On interior doors or as a trim color in a white room it gives definition that is softer than black.

When to avoid Kendall Charcoal

If you want a color that reads black, Kendall Charcoal will look gray; Iron Ore is the darker option. If your room is full of warm brown and cream, a warmer dark such as Urbane Bronze may blend better. On all four walls of a small, dim room it can still feel heavy.

Does Kendall Charcoal look blue?

Rarely. Its measured yellow–blue value is +2.4, on the warm side of neutral, with a very slight green lean (−0.4). What people see as blue is usually north light or a cool LED bulb flattening it into a plain gray, or a blue-veined countertop nearby. If you want a charcoal that leans blue on purpose, Flint (AF-560) is the cooler option, 6.1 apart.

Kendall Charcoal room by room

Living rooms

At LRV 14.6 it is light enough for all four walls in a bright living room, which most charcoals are not. Pair it with a warm white ceiling and wood or cognac leather to keep it from feeling corporate.

Bedrooms

It makes a calm, enveloping bedroom, especially on a headboard wall with lighter walls elsewhere. Use warm 2700K bulbs; cool ones make it look flat.

Bathrooms and powder rooms

On a vanity it reads as a soft charcoal that suits brushed brass, matte black and white marble alike. In a windowless powder room it works on every wall, because the room is already lit by bulbs.

Dining rooms

Under a dimmed chandelier it deepens almost to iron, which gives a dining room evening drama without committing to a true black.

Front doors

Kendall Charcoal is a safe front door color on white, cream, gray or red brick homes: dark enough to anchor the entry, soft enough not to look stark.

Kendall Charcoal pros and cons

Pros

• Lighter than most charcoals, so it can cover full walls without darkening a room as much.
• Close to neutral, so it works with both warm and cool finishes.
• Equally at home on cabinets, doors, siding and interior walls.

Cons

• Can look flat gray in north light; it needs warm bulbs or sun to show depth.
• Not dark enough if you want a near-black statement; Iron Ore or Wrought Iron go deeper.
• On large sunny exteriors it fades lighter than the chip suggests.

Best white for Kendall Charcoal

Benjamin Moore lists Simply White and Snow White (OC-66) as coordinating colors; both are clean whites that keep it crisp. White Dove gives a softer, warmer frame.

Kendall Charcoal hex code, RGB and LRV

Benjamin Moore lists Kendall Charcoal (HC-166) as hex #676662, RGB 103, 102, 98 and LRV 14.61.

Colors that go with Kendall Charcoal

Benjamin Moore's palette pairs it with the soft yellow Hawthorne Yellow, Simply White, the pale blue-green Harbor Haze (2136-60) and Snow White.

Kendall Charcoal vs similar charcoals

Kendall Charcoal vs Grizzle Gray

Grizzle Gray (SW 7068, LRV 12.8) is the closest Sherwin-Williams color, 1.8 apart. It is slightly darker and a little greener, so it is the swap if you shop at Sherwin-Williams.

Kendall Charcoal vs Peppercorn

Peppercorn (LRV 9.7) is darker and perfectly neutral, 5.6 apart. Kendall Charcoal is the softer, slightly warmer pick; Peppercorn gives more contrast with white trim.

Kendall Charcoal vs Gauntlet Gray

Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019, LRV 17.4) is lighter and warmer, with more brown, 5.8 apart. Choose it if Kendall Charcoal looks too cool in your room.

Kendall Charcoal vs Chelsea Gray

Chelsea Gray (HC-168, LRV 23.3) is a mid-tone gray, far lighter at 12.1 apart. Designers often use it on walls with Kendall Charcoal on cabinets or doors.

Kendall Charcoal vs Urbane Bronze

Urbane Bronze (LRV 8.1) is much darker and browner, 8.0 apart. They suit different looks: Kendall is a balanced charcoal, Urbane Bronze an earthy near-black.

How to test Kendall Charcoal

Paint two sample boards and place one on the darkest wall and one on the brightest. Kendall Charcoal changes more between those two walls than most colors, because its depth depends on light. View them at noon and under your evening lighting, and compare against a Grizzle Gray or Peppercorn sample if you are weighing brands. The LRV guide explains why a color at 14.6 behaves so differently from one at 5 or 6.

Colors similar to Kendall Charcoal

Within Benjamin Moore, Deep Creek (1477) is the nearest, 3.7 apart, and slightly browner.

ΔE is the CIEDE2000 color difference between the two manufacturer colors: around 1 is barely visible; 2–3 is visible when the chips sit side by side.

Kendall Charcoal FAQs