Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Night Watch |
| SKU | SW 9680 |
| Hex | #303636 |
| RGB | 48, 54, 54 |
| HSL | 180°, 6%, 20% |
| LRV | 4 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Black |
What Color Is Night Watch, Really?
Night Watch reads as a cool blue-green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 9680 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Night Watch
Night Watch 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.
How Lighting Changes Night Watch
At LRV 4, Night Watch 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. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Night Watch are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
TEST IT IN YOUR LIGHT →Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9680 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Night Watch 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 #303636 in HSL space. Pair Night Watch 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.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Night Watch behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY NIGHT WATCH ON YOUR ROOM →
Ask a Question
Not sure about Night Watch in your room?
Ask Jessica below — every question gets a real reply, usually within a day.