Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Black Heron |
| SKU | V120-3 |
| Hex | #3A3C3D |
| RGB | 58, 60, 61 |
| HSL | 200°, 3%, 23% |
| LRV | 4.5 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Black |
About Valspar Black Heron
At LRV 4.5, Black Heron 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.
Black Heron 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.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Black Heron within Valspar'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 #3A3C3D in HSL space. Pair Black Heron 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.
Valspar Black Heron Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Heron 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 Valspar V120-3 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Heron
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Greenblack (SW 6994), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Greenblack swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Heron
Behr's nearest match is Limousine Leather (MQ5-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.28). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Limousine Leather swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Black Heron
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Black Heron is Black Iron (2120-20). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4.5). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Black Iron and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Iron swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Heron
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Black Heron is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4.5). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Starless Sky and you'll get the same color. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Black Heron
Glidden's nearest match is Onyx Black (00NN 05/000), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.94). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Onyx Black swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Black Heron
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Black Heron. The nearest is Ebony Sky (438-6DB) at ΔE 4.53 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ebony Sky swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Black Heron
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Carbonized Wood (DESS50), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.26). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Carbonized Wood swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Heron
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Smelt Black (NO. G18), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.26). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Smelt Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Heron
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Silent Sea (0515), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Heron
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Black Heron is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.84 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4.5). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Black Heron
C2 Paint's nearest match is Aperture (C2-981), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.28). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Aperture swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Black Heron
Clare has no exact twin of Black Heron. The nearest is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) at ΔE 4.47 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackish swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Black Heron
Backdrop has no exact twin of Black Heron. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.36 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Black Heron
Rust-Oleum's nearest match is Charcoal (285144), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.88). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4.5) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Heron without repainting risk. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black Heron
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Black Heron is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.84 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4.5). If Kompozit is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →