Black Ink vs Grey Blue

Black InkBenjamin MoorevsGrey BlueRAL ClassicΔE 9.1Noticeable difference

Black Ink (Benjamin Moore) and Grey Blue (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 6 vs 7 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 9.1 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Black Ink vs Grey Blue in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Black Ink and Grey Blue are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

House

A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

Black InkBlack Ink house exterior paint

@stonemillrealty_designbuild

Grey BlueRAL Classic Grey Blue 5008 house exterior

@bungalow_in_brokdorf

Front Door

On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.

Black InkBenjamin Moore Black Ink front door

@brightangleschicago

Grey BlueRAL Classic Grey Blue 5008 front door

@waclawik_okna

Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

Black InkBlack Ink kitchen cabinets

@rkinteriors

Grey BlueRAL Classic Grey Blue 5008 kitchen cabinets

@ilo.nove_homestory

Color Details

Black Ink
Benjamin Moore · 2127-20
Hex#373A3D
LRV5.8
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2127-20
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
Grey Blue
RAL Classic · RAL 5008
Hex#464c56
LRV7.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 5008
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Black Ink vs Grey Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Ink on one side and Grey Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.

More Black Ink comparisons

See how Black Ink stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Black Ink
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Black Ink
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Black Ink
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Purbeck Stone
Black Ink
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Black Ink
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Black Ink
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Black Ink
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Black Ink
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Black Ink
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Black Ink
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Black Ink
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Black Ink
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Black Ink
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Cement grey
Black Ink
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Black Ink
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Piazza
Black Ink
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Black Ink
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Black Ink
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane is the lighter choice

Senses
Black Ink
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Black Ink
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Black Ink reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Black Ink
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Black Ink
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Black Ink
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Black Ink
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Classic Silver
Black Ink
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Black Ink
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Black Ink
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Black Ink
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Black Ink
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Black Ink
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter