Best Black Spray Paints for Chrome – Top Picks for Graffiti Writers
A chrome piece is only as good as the black around it. Silver goes up fast and looks sharp from a distance, but if your outline lets the chrome grin through, the whole piece looks unfinished. That's what a "chrome killer" is for: a black opaque enough to cover silver cleanly in one pass.
The short answer: for outlining chrome pieces, Molotow Burner Black and MTN Nitro 2G are the two we'd reach for first. Dope Nitro Black is the best value at £5 a can, MTN Vice Vanta Black is the cheapest high-pressure black we stock at £4.50, and if you want a gloss black rather than matt, go for MTN Hardcore.
Molotow Burner Black 600ml£8 a canShop now →
MTN Nitro 2G Black£8 a canShop now →
Dope Nitro Black 500ml£5 a canShop now →
MTN Vice Vanta Black 400ml£4.50 a canShop now →
What makes a good chrome killer?
- Opacity. The black has to block out shiny silver completely. A thin or watery black lets the chrome show through and you end up going over your outline twice.
- Pressure. High-pressure cans put down more paint, faster. That's what you want for bold outlines and quick fills over a big chrome piece. Lower-pressure cans give you more control for fine lines and detail.
- Finish. A matt black gives you the strongest contrast against glossy chrome. A gloss black has a wet, shiny look of its own. Neither is wrong; it comes down to the style you're going for.
- Can size. Outlines on a big piece eat through black. A 600ml can like Burner Black holds half as much paint again as a standard 400ml can, so you swap cans less often.
The blacks we stock, compared
| Paint | Pressure | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molotow Burner Black 600ml | High output | £8 | Big outlines and fills, made to partner Burner Chrome |
| MTN Nitro 2G Black | High | £8 | Bold outlines and quick fills over chrome |
| Dope Nitro Black 500ml | Ultra high | £5 | Fast, solid coverage on a budget |
| MTN Vice Vanta Black | High | £4.50 | The cheapest high-pressure black we stock |
| MTN Hardcore Black | High | £28.50 for 6 | When you want a gloss black |
| MTN 94 Matt Black | Low | £5.50 | Clean detail lines where control matters more than speed |
| Loop Black LP-104 | Medium | £4.75 | An all-round black for outlines, fills and shadows |
Prices are per can unless stated. Browse them all together in our Chrome Killers collection.
Our picks in more detail
Molotow Burner Black 600ml
Burner Black is the natural partner for Molotow Burner Chrome. It's a big 600ml, high-output matt black with good weather resistance, so it lays a thick outline quickly and keeps going on big pieces. If you paint a lot of chrome, it's the black to keep in your bag.
MTN Nitro 2G Black
Montana Colors' high-pressure black, and the one we pair with Burner Chrome in our chrome and black packs. It's made for punchy outlines and fast fills, and it covers silver cleanly.
Dope Nitro Black 500ml
The value pick. Dope Nitro Black is an ultra high-pressure, deep matt black built for fast, solid fills and maximum opacity, and at £5 a can it's easy to keep a few spare. It's a good choice for filling large areas of black as well as outlines.
MTN Vice Vanta Black
Vice is Montana Colors' range made for graffiti writers, and Vanta Black is the black from that range. At £4.50 it's the cheapest high-pressure black on our shelves, so it's a smart buy if you're stocking up for a big wall or a jam.
Matt or gloss?
Most writers outline chrome in matt black. Burner Black, Dope Nitro Black, MTN 94 Matt Black and Loop LP-104 all dry flat, which gives the strongest contrast against shiny silver and doesn't throw back glare in photos. If you prefer a wet-look outline, MTN Hardcore is a high-pressure gloss. For the full difference between the two Montana lines, read MTN 94 vs MTN Hardcore.
How to kill chrome cleanly
- Let the chrome dry first. Outlining over wet silver drags it into your black and leaves a grey, muddy edge.
- Pick the right cap. A fat cap for bold outlines on big letters, a skinny cap for crisp, tight lines. Our beginner's guide to graffiti caps explains which is which, and spare caps are cheap to keep in your bag.
- Commit to one pass. Keep your distance and speed steady. A confident single pass with a high-pressure black looks cleaner than going back over a shaky line.
- Tidy up with cutbacks. Once your outline is dry, cut back into it with chrome to sharpen the edges.
- Bring more black than you think. Outlines on a full piece use more paint than you expect. Our guide to how many spray cans you need walks through the maths.
Save with packs
- Chrome & black 6-pack: three Burner Chrome and three MTN Nitro 2G for £42
- Chrome & black 12-pack: six of each for £80
- Dope Nitro Black 6-pack: £30
- MTN Hardcore Black 6-pack: £28.50, so £4.75 a can
- MTN 94 Matt Black 6-pack: £34
- Loop Black 6-pack for £28, or the 12-pack for £54
Shop Chrome KillersSee pack deals
Order online for UK delivery, or choose free click and collect from our shop at 389 New Cross Road, London SE14 6LA.
Chrome killer FAQs
What is a chrome killer?
A black spray paint that's opaque enough to cover silver chrome in a single pass. Writers use it for the outlines and black fills on chrome pieces.
Can any black spray paint cover chrome?
Most blacks will cover eventually, but a thin or low-pressure black can take several coats over shiny silver. A high-pressure, heavily pigmented black like Burner Black, MTN Nitro 2G or Dope Nitro Black does it in one.
What's the best black to use with Molotow Burner Chrome?
Molotow Burner Black is made as its partner, and MTN Nitro 2G is the black in our chrome and black packs. Either works well.
Which chrome should I buy?
That's a whole guide of its own: read our best chrome spray paint for graffiti for the silvers, golds and metallics we rate.
Just getting started? Our graffiti starter kit guide covers what to buy first, and Loop vs MTN 94 compares two of the most popular everyday cans.