Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Cardinal |
| SKU | SW 2908 |
| Hex | #9D101C |
| RGB | 157, 16, 28 |
| HSL | 355°, 82%, 34% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| Family | Red |
About Sherwin-Williams Cardinal
At LRV 8, Cardinal 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 red 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.
Cardinal earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
Closest matches at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all red from that brand.
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Behr
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
Dutch Boy
Kompozit
Dunn-Edwards
PPG / Glidden
C2 Paint
Diamond Vogel
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Cardinal 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 #9D101C in HSL space. Pair Cardinal 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 Cardinal Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Cardinal 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 2908 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Cardinal
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Heritage Red (HC-181), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.88). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 10 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Cardinal without repainting risk. See the full Heritage Red swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Cardinal
At Valspar, the closest color to Cardinal is Quite Red (1011-3) — very close at ΔE 2.18, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6.9 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Quite Red swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Cardinal
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Cardinal. The nearest is Brave And Bold (JG-32) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 10 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Brave And Bold swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Cardinal
Backdrop has no exact twin of Cardinal. The nearest is Punk Rock (BD-PR) at ΔE 4.78 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Punk Rock swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Cardinal
Behr has no exact twin of Cardinal. The nearest is California Poppy (S-G-160) at ΔE 4.9 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full California Poppy swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Cardinal
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Cardinal. The nearest is Double Decker (205-7DB) at ΔE 4.96 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Double Decker swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Cardinal
PPG / Glidden doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardinal — the nearest deck color, Blaze (PPG13-16), is clearly different (ΔE 8.24). For an exact match, any PPG / Glidden retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 2908 instead. See the full Blaze swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Cardinal
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardinal — the nearest deck color, Red Stiletto (C2-522), is clearly different (ΔE 8.36). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 2908 instead. See the full Red Stiletto swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Cardinal
Kompozit doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardinal — the nearest deck color, Velvet Cake (1124), is clearly different (ΔE 8.92). For an exact match, any Kompozit retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 2908 instead. See the full Velvet Cake swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Cardinal
Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardinal — the nearest deck color, Velvet Cake (1124), is clearly different (ΔE 10.96). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 2908 instead. See the full Velvet Cake swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Cardinal
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardinal — the nearest deck color, Rectory Red (NO. 217), is clearly different (ΔE 11.22). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 2908 instead. See the full Rectory Red swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Cardinal
Dunn-Edwards doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardinal — the nearest deck color, Crimson Strawberry (DEA102), is clearly different (ΔE 11.29). For an exact match, any Dunn-Edwards retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 2908 instead. See the full Crimson Strawberry swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Cardinal
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Cardinal — the nearest deck color, Vintage (PNT100-DP-67), is clearly different (ΔE 15.28). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 2908 instead. See the full Vintage swatch →