Kendall Charcoal → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal (HC-166), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Kendall Charcoal
If you love Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal but need a Sherwin Williams alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Kendall Charcoal (HC-166) is a dark gray with warm green-gray undertones. A deep, warm charcoal with subtle green undertones. Dark enough to make a statement without going full black. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 12.67) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Kendall Charcoal and every Sherwin Williams color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Iron Ore (SW 7069) with a Delta E of 5, which is a "good match" level match. Iron Ore is darker and warmer, leaning more brown. Kendall Charcoal stays greener and a touch lighter. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Kendall Charcoal
Iron Ore is darker and warmer, leaning more brown. Kendall Charcoal stays greener and a touch lighter.
| Kendall Charcoal | Iron Ore | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 12.67 | 6 |
| Hex | #6D6D67 | #524C47 |
| Undertone | Warm Green-Gray | Warm Brown-Black |
| Family | Gray | Black |
Undertone Comparison
Kendall Charcoal has warm green-gray undertones. A deep, warm charcoal with subtle green undertones. Dark enough to make a statement without going full black.
Iron Ore has warm brown-black undertones. A warm, rich near-black with brown-charcoal undertones. The most popular dark paint color in America for good reason.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Kendall Charcoal's warm green-gray quality may read differently than Iron Ore's warm brown-black character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Kendall Charcoal in Your Room
Reads as a rich charcoal in most rooms. The green undertone shows in very bright light. Pairs beautifully with warm whites and brass accents.
Iron Ore in Your Room
In bright light, the warm brown undertone is visible. In dim rooms, it reads as a sophisticated soft black. Warmer than a true black, which gives it depth.
LRV and Brightness
Kendall Charcoal has an LRV of 12.67, while Iron Ore has an LRV of 6. That means Kendall Charcoal reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Kendall Charcoal will make the space feel brighter and more open than Iron Ore. If you are switching to the Sherwin Williams option, expect the room to feel slightly more intimate and cozy.
Best Rooms for Kendall Charcoal
Benjamin Moore recommends Kendall Charcoal for: accent wall, exterior, front door, office, powder room. With an LRV of 12.67, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Iron Ore is recommended for: front door, accent wall, exterior trim, cabinets, shutters. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Kendall Charcoal in Other Brands
Looking for Kendall Charcoal equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Kendall Charcoal (HC-166) is Iron Ore (SW 7069) with a Delta E of 5, which rates as a "good match" match. Iron Ore is darker and warmer, leaning more brown. Kendall Charcoal stays greener and a touch lighter. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Kendall Charcoal is a Benjamin Moore color with warm green-gray undertones and an LRV of 12.67. Iron Ore is a Sherwin Williams color with warm brown-black undertones and an LRV of 6. With a Delta E of 5, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 5, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.