Caliente → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Caliente (AF-290), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Caliente
If you love Benjamin Moore Caliente 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.
Caliente (AF-290) is a dark red with bold warm red undertones. BM's 2018 Color of the Year. A bold, confident red with warm undertones. Brighter and more fiery than Heritage Red. Makes a dramatic statement on front doors, accent walls, and exteriors. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 11.45) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Caliente 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.
Honestly, Sherwin Williams does not have a perfect equivalent for Caliente. The closest option is Iron Ore (SW 7069) with a Delta E of 18, but at that distance the difference will be visible. No close SW match in our database. This is a distinctive red that does not have a direct equivalent in the SW neutral range. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a Sherwin Williams store.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Caliente
No close SW match in our database. This is a distinctive red that does not have a direct equivalent in the SW neutral range.
| Caliente | Iron Ore | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 11.45 | 6 |
| Hex | #973734 | #524C47 |
| Undertone | Bold Warm Red | Warm Brown-Black |
| Family | Red | Black |
Undertone Comparison
Caliente has bold warm red undertones. BM's 2018 Color of the Year. A bold, confident red with warm undertones. Brighter and more fiery than Heritage Red. Makes a dramatic statement on front doors, accent walls, and exteriors.
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. Caliente's bold warm red 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
Caliente in Your Room
The red is vibrant and commanding. In bright light, it practically glows. In dim rooms, it deepens into a rich, warm burgundy. A color that demands attention and rewards confidence.
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
Caliente has an LRV of 11.45, while Iron Ore has an LRV of 6. That means Caliente reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Caliente 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 Caliente
Benjamin Moore recommends Caliente for: front door, accent wall, exterior, dining room, powder room. With an LRV of 11.45, 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. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Iron Ore in the same rooms you planned for Caliente.
Caliente in Other Brands
Looking for Caliente equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Caliente (AF-290) is Iron Ore (SW 7069) with a Delta E of 18, which rates as a "no good match" match. No close SW match in our database. This is a distinctive red that does not have a direct equivalent in the SW neutral range. 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. Caliente is a Benjamin Moore color with bold warm red undertones and an LRV of 11.45. Iron Ore is a Sherwin Williams color with warm brown-black undertones and an LRV of 6. With a Delta E of 18, 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 18, 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.