Updated: September, 2026
There are black paint colors that look unmistakably black, and then there’s Sherwin-Williams Black Fox SW 7020. This is one of those colors that lives somewhere between black, brown, and deep charcoal – and that’s exactly why we like it.
Black Fox is dark and dramatic, but it doesn’t have the starkness that can sometimes come with a true black exterior. Its warmth makes it especially easy to use with stone, wood, brick, and other natural exterior materials.
We’ve used Black Fox on everything from siding and brick to trim, shutters, garage doors, and front doors. If you’re considering going dark but aren’t convinced you want a true black, Black Fox deserves a closer look.
What color is Sherwin-Williams Black Fox?
Sherwin-Williams Black Fox SW 7020 is a very dark, warm neutral. Sherwin-Williams describes it as having a warm greige undertone, but on an exterior, we often see quite a bit of brown come through.
That’s an important distinction.
If you’re looking for a crisp, true black, Black Fox probably isn’t the color I would choose. But if you want something dark and moody that feels a little softer and more organic, that’s where Black Fox shines.
It can look nearly black in some lighting and much more brown or charcoal in others. That changeability is part of its appeal, but it’s also why sampling the color before committing is so important.
Does Black Fox have brown undertones?
Let’s talk about it. Yes, and our designers think of that as one of Black Fox’s best qualities.
Its warm undertones keep it from feeling flat or harsh. They also help Black Fox work beautifully with exterior materials that naturally have warmth in them, including stone, brick, copper, warm wood, and certain roof colors.
On a home surrounded by lots of natural light, you’re more likely to notice Black Fox’s brown side. In shade or lower light, it can read much closer to black.
This is also why I wouldn’t choose Black Fox simply because you saw it on someone else’s home and loved it. Exterior paint colors are incredibly dependent on the house itself and the elements you aren’t changing. Roof color, stone, brick, exposure, landscaping, and even neighboring colors can change what you see.
What is Black Fox’s LRV?
Black Fox has an LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, of 7.
LRV runs on a scale from 0 to 100 and tells us approximately how much light a paint color reflects. The lower the number, the darker the color.
At 7, Black Fox is definitely dark.
That low LRV gives it the depth and drama homeowners are usually looking for when considering a black exterior. However, because of Black Fox’s warmth, it doesn’t always feel as severe as a color with similar depth and cooler undertones.
One thing to keep in mind with any color this dark: sunlight matters. A dark exterior can look noticeably different on a bright south-facing elevation than it does on a shaded side of the same house.
Is Black Fox good for exterior paint?
We think it’s an excellent exterior paint color on the right home.
Our designers use Black Fox most often when we want a dark exterior that feels sophisticated but not overly stark. It works particularly well on modern, contemporary, transitional, and updated ranch-style homes.
We’ve used it on siding and painted brick, but sometimes we like Black Fox even more as an accent.
It can be gorgeous on:
- Garage doors
- Front doors
- Trim
- Shutters
- Board-and-batten accents
- Gables
- Painted brick
If a full dark exterior feels like too much, using Black Fox selectively is a great way to introduce contrast without overwhelming the house.
And personally, I love it when there is natural wood or warm stone involved. Black Fox tends to connect those elements rather than compete with them.
What colors go with Black Fox?
This is where Black Fox’s warmth really works in its favor. It pairs well with many of the lighter warm whites, off-whites, greiges, and soft neutrals we already use frequently on exteriors.
Does Black Fox work with Classic Gray?
Yes. Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray is one of our favorite lighter colors to pair with Black Fox.
In the home above, our designers used Black Fox on the trim against the much lighter Classic Gray. The contrast gives the home definition, but because neither color feels overly stark, the combination still feels inviting.
What about Revere Pewter?
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter is another great companion for Black Fox, particularly when the exterior has other warm elements that need to be considered.
Revere Pewter has enough depth that the palette doesn’t feel like a simple black-and-white exterior. It’s softer, warmer, and a little more layered.
Can you pair Black Fox with Seapearl or Alabaster?
Absolutely. Those are some of our favorites.
Benjamin Moore Seapearl and Sherwin-Williams Alabaster are two lighter neutrals we regularly use when we want contrast without going to a bright, crisp white.
That’s generally our preference with Black Fox. Because Black Fox itself is warm, an extremely cool or blue-white can sometimes feel disconnected. A softer white is often much easier to work with.
Can Black Fox work with another dark color?
It can and we’ve done it.
Sherwin-Williams Caviar is deeper and closer to a traditional black. Using Caviar with Black Fox creates a more subtle, tone-on-tone contrast than pairing Black Fox with a light neutral.
We like this approach when the goal is a sophisticated, modern exterior rather than high contrast.
Does Black Fox look black or brown on a house?
The answer is: both. And I know that isn’t as definitive as you would probably like, but it’s the truth.
Black Fox can look brown in bright natural light, especially next to cooler blacks or grays. On a shaded elevation, from the street, or later in the day, it may read almost black.
That’s one reason I like this color so much. It has dimension.
But it’s also the reason I would not recommend Black Fox to someone who has their heart set on a true black house. If you want black to look undeniably black under almost every condition, there are better options.
Black Fox vs. Iron Ore: What’s the difference?
Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore is one of the first colors I’d consider if Black Fox feels a little too brown.
Iron Ore has an LRV of 6, so the two colors are very similar in depth. The biggest difference is how they read. Black Fox is warmer and browner. Iron Ore tends to feel more like a deep charcoal.
If I were working with warm stone, brown brick, or rich wood tones, I might lean toward Black Fox. If I wanted a more neutral charcoal-black that could bridge warm and cool elements, Iron Ore would likely get a closer look.
Neither one is automatically “better.” The fixed elements on the house would make that decision for me.
What if I want something darker than Black Fox?
Sherwin-Williams Caviar is worth considering.
With an LRV of 3, Caviar is significantly darker than Black Fox and reads much closer to black. It still has some softness to it, but you aren’t going to see the same obvious brown quality that you can get from Black Fox.
If Black Fox feels a little too earthy for your home but you like the overall idea, Caviar may give you the stronger black appearance you’re after.
Is Benjamin Moore Midsummer Night similar to Black Fox?
Benjamin Moore Midsummer Night is another color we like when a homeowner wants something dark without going to a cold or stark black.
With an LRV of 5.8, it’s slightly darker than Black Fox and has plenty of warmth. Like Black Fox, it can work especially well when the exterior includes natural materials and needs a dark color that won’t feel disconnected from them.
What are the pros and cons of Black Fox?
No paint color is right for every house, and Black Fox is no exception.
What we love about Black Fox:
- It gives you the drama of a dark exterior without the harshness of some true blacks.
- Its warm undertones work beautifully with wood, stone, and brick.
- It can work as either a primary exterior color or an accent.
- It has more depth and personality than a straightforward black.
- It works across several architectural styles.
What gives us pause:
- Black Fox can look considerably more brown in certain lighting.
- If you want a true black, this isn’t it.
- Like most very dark colors, it can be a lot on an entire home if the architecture or setting can’t support it.
- Its appearance can change considerably depending on the home’s fixed elements and natural light.
That last point is important. A color being beautiful doesn’t necessarily make it right for your house.
Should you sample Black Fox before painting?
Definitely.
We recommend sampling any exterior paint color before making a final decision. As a designer, we can tell you that paint color on home exteriors is tricky because of undertones, LRV, and your fixed elements. So yes, absolutely sample.
Look at your sample in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Look at it next to your roof, stone, brick, windows, and other materials that aren’t changing.
And don’t rely solely on what Black Fox looks like on your phone or computer screen. Screens simply can’t show you exactly how a paint color will interact with the light and materials at your own home.
Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
So, would we use Sherwin-Williams Black Fox on our personal homes and recommend it to friends?
Yes – and we do.
Black Fox remains one of those dark neutrals we return to because it fills a very specific need. It gives a home depth and drama without automatically making the exterior feel harsh or heavy.
Would we use it on every house? Absolutely not.
If the home has cool fixed elements or the homeowner wants an unmistakably true black, we’d probably look elsewhere. But when a house has warm stone, brick, wood, or other earthy elements, Black Fox can be really beautiful.
For us, that’s the difference between choosing a popular paint color and choosing the right paint color. The goal isn’t to put Black Fox on a house because Black Fox looks good. The goal is to determine whether Black Fox makes that particular house look better.
Choosing an exterior paint color is only one part of creating a cohesive exterior. Roofs, windows, doors, stone, brick, landscaping, lighting, and architectural details all affect the finished look.
Still deciding if a dark exterior is right for you? Check out these 15 stunning black houses for inspiration.
Wondering if Black Fox is right for your home?
If you love Black Fox but aren’t sure whether it works with your home, our exterior designers will help you build a complete color palette and visualize it on your actual house before you commit to changes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sherwin-Williams Black Fox
Does Sherwin-Williams Black Fox look good with wood tones?
Black Fox pairs especially well with natural wood because its warm brown undertones help connect the two materials. We like it with cedar, walnut, stained garage doors, and other medium-to-warm wood finishes because the combination feels layered rather than high-contrast. Sherwin-Williams describes Black Fox as a warm black with a greige undertone.
What other light colors coordinate with Sherwin-Williams Black Fox?
Black Fox works well with soft, warm whites that create contrast without feeling too stark. Sherwin-Williams features Shoji White paired with Black Fox on a Craftsman exterior, a combination that feels warm, balanced, and grounded in the surrounding landscape
Can Sherwin-Williams Black Fox be used on a garage door?
Yes. Black Fox can be a great choice for garage doors when you want a deep, warm color that feels softer than a true black. Dark garage doors can help create contrast while tying into other exterior details like the front door, lighting, trim, or shutters.
Does Sherwin-Williams Black Fox look good with brick?
Yes. Black Fox works well with many brick exteriors because its warm brown undertones can complement the earthy tones already present in the masonry. It can be especially effective on doors, shutters, trim, or garage doors when you want darker contrast without introducing a cool, stark black. Choosing the right paint colors to pair with brick can help the whole exterior feel more cohesive.
