Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Big Dipper |
| SKU | SW 9645 |
| Hex | #41494B |
| RGB | 65, 73, 75 |
| HSL | 192°, 7%, 27% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Black |
About Sherwin-Williams Big Dipper
At LRV 6, Big Dipper is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its teal undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Big Dipper earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
Closest matches by brand
18 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all black from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Big Dipper within Sherwin-Williams's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #41494B in HSL space. Pair Big Dipper with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Sherwin-Williams Big Dipper Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Big Dipper from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9645 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Big Dipper
Behr's nearest match is Little Black Dress (PPU24-23), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.89). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Big Dipper without repainting risk. See the full Little Black Dress swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Big Dipper
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Big Dipper is Black Horizon (2132-30) — very close at ΔE 3.31, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Horizon swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Big Dipper
The closest Valspar equivalent of Big Dipper is Naval Night (M310). At ΔE 0.72 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6.6 vs 6). If Valspar is your counter, order Naval Night and you'll get the same color. See the full Naval Night swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Big Dipper
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Black Forest (PPG1012-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Big Dipper without repainting risk. See the full Black Forest swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Big Dipper
Glidden's nearest match is Black Forest (PPG1012-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Big Dipper without repainting risk. See the full Black Forest swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Big Dipper
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Big Dipper is Anchored Blue (434-7DB) — very close at ΔE 3.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Anchored Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Big Dipper
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Big Dipper is No Limits (HGSW 1461) — very close at ΔE 3.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full No Limits swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Big Dipper
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Big Dipper is Charred (DEGR80) — very close at ΔE 2.52, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charred swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Big Dipper
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Big Dipper is Arches (JG-97) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Arches swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Big Dipper
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Big Dipper is Railings (NO. 31) — very close at ΔE 2.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Railings swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Big Dipper
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Big Dipper. The nearest is Black Licorice (0529) at ΔE 3.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black Licorice swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Big Dipper
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Big Dipper. The nearest is Midnight Magic (0508) at ΔE 4.13 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Big Dipper
At Rodda, the closest color to Big Dipper is Dark Ages (R090) — very close at ΔE 2.86, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Ages swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Big Dipper
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Big Dipper. The nearest is Stout (C2-965) at ΔE 4.3 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Stout swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Big Dipper
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Big Dipper is Black Sky (BLACK SKY) — very close at ΔE 3.26, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Sky swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Big Dipper
Backdrop has no exact twin of Big Dipper. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.41 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Big Dipper
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Big Dipper. The nearest is Charcoal (285144) at ΔE 4.79 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Big Dipper
Kompozit has no exact twin of Big Dipper. The nearest is Midnight Magic (0508) at ΔE 4.13 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →