Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Inkwell |
| SKU | SW 6992 |
| Hex | #1F2126 |
| RGB | 31, 33, 38 |
| HSL | 223°, 10%, 14% |
| LRV | 3 |
| Undertone | near-black with subtle hue |
| Family | Black |
About Sherwin-Williams Inkwell
At LRV 3, Inkwell 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 blue 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.
Inkwell 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
6 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.
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Hirshfield's
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Inkwell 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 #1F2126 in HSL space. Pair Inkwell 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 Inkwell Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Inkwell 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 6992 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Inkwell
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Inkwell. The nearest is Black (PM-9) at ΔE 4.41 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Inkwell
Valspar's nearest match is Tuxedo (8006-8G), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Inkwell without repainting risk. See the full Tuxedo swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Inkwell
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Inkwell. The nearest is Silent Sea (0515) at ΔE 4.16 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Inkwell
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Inkwell. The nearest is Factory Black (FACTORY BLACK) at ΔE 4.47 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Factory Black swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Inkwell
The closest Backdrop equivalent of Inkwell is Hocus Pocus (BD-HP). At ΔE 0.71 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same near-black undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3). If Backdrop is your counter, order Hocus Pocus and you'll get the same color. See the full Hocus Pocus swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Inkwell
Kompozit has no exact twin of Inkwell. The nearest is Silent Sea (0515) at ΔE 4.16 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silent Sea swatch →