Black Brown vs Burnt Umber

How close are they?

ΔE 11.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Burnt Umber is noticeably lighter, more muted, warmer than Black Brown.

Can I use Burnt Umber instead of Black Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). Burnt Umber is noticeably lighter, more muted, warmer than Black Brown.

Can I use Black Brown instead of Burnt Umber?

The same difference applies the other way round: Black Brown is noticeably darker, more saturated, cooler.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.