Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Dark Kettle Black |
| SKU | 4011-2 |
| Hex | #2A2A2A |
| RGB | 42, 42, 42 |
| HSL | 0°, 0%, 16% |
| LRV | 4 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Black |
About Valspar Dark Kettle Black
At LRV 4, Dark Kettle Black 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.
Dark Kettle Black 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
9 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
Benjamin Moore
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Hirshfield's
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Dark Kettle Black 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 #2A2A2A in HSL space. Pair Dark Kettle Black 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 Dark Kettle Black Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Dark Kettle Black 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 4011-2 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Tricorn Black (SW 6258), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Kettle Black without repainting risk. See the full Tricorn Black swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Black (PM-9), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.03). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Kettle Black without repainting risk. See the full Black swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
Dutch Boy's nearest match is True Black (438-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Kettle Black without repainting risk. See the full True Black swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Tricorn Black (HGSW 1441), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Kettle Black without repainting risk. See the full Tricorn Black swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Dark Kettle Black. The nearest is Blackboard (JG-05) at ΔE 4.97 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 4). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackboard swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Dark Kettle Black is Silent Sea (0515). At ΔE 0.89 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 4). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Silent Sea and you'll get the same color. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
Portola Paints's nearest match is Factory Black (FACTORY BLACK), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.49). It runs slightly darker (LRV 2 vs 4) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Kettle Black without repainting risk. See the full Factory Black swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
Backdrop has no exact twin of Dark Kettle Black. The nearest is Hocus Pocus (BD-HP) at ΔE 4.65 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 4). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hocus Pocus swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Dark Kettle Black
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Dark Kettle Black is Silent Sea (0515). At ΔE 0.89 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 2 vs 4). If Kompozit is your counter, order Silent Sea and you'll get the same color. See the full Silent Sea swatch →