Is Valspar Dark Kettle Black a good dupe for Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore?

Yes! Valspar Dark Kettle Black has a 77% scientific visual match to Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore with a CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) of only 5.29. On walls, the difference is virtually imperceptible under standard residential lighting.

How much do you save using Dark Kettle Black instead of Iron Ore?

Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore retails at ~$82/gal, whereas Valspar Dark Kettle Black costs ~$44/gal. You save $38 per gallon (46% discount), or approximately $304 on an average whole-house painting project.

Head-to-Head Dupe Analysis77% Match SimilaritySave $38 / Gallon

Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore
vs Valspar Dark Kettle Black

Looking for a cheap equivalent to Iron Ore (SW 7069)? Here is the scientific comparison, spectrophotometric ΔE score, and exact formula to get this mixed at Lowe's.

⚖️ Side-by-Side Visual Comparison

Notice how the human eye perceives both shades under identical D65 daylight.

ΔE: 5.29

Original (premium)$82/gal

Iron Ore

Sherwin-Williams (SW 7069)

HEX: #434341 • LRV: 6

Budget Dupe (budget)$44/gal

Dark Kettle Black

Valspar (4011-2)

HEX: #333435 • LRV: 4

🎯 Editorial Verdict:"Good Coordinating Alternative"

Light Reflectance difference is only 2%. Once painted across an entire room, natural light bounce creates identical atmosphere.

Cost Difference

Save $38/gal (46%)

Technical Specification Comparison

Objective measurements recorded under standard CIE D65 illuminant.

Metric	Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore	Valspar Dark Kettle Black	Difference / Notes
Hexadecimal Code	#434341	#333435	ΔE 5.29
sRGB Coordinates	67, 67, 65	51, 52, 53	Near-parallel chromaticity
LRV (Light Reflectance)	6%	4%	Only 2% variance
Dominant Undertones	Deep Charcoal, Soft Black, Warm Slate	Cast Iron Black, Deep Charcoal, Slate	Complementary tones
Price Per Gallon (MSRP)	$82	$44	Save $38/gal
Whole House Cost (10 gal)	$820	$440	Save $380 Total!

🛒 How to Order this Dupe at Lowe's

Copy and present this exact prompt to the paint counter technician.

"Hi, I would like 1 gallon of Valspar Marquee/Premium tinted to Dark Kettle Black (4011-2). This is a verified match for Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore (SW 7069)."