Midnight Oil vs Black grey

Midnight OilBenjamin MoorevsBlack greyRAL ClassicΔE 9.6Noticeable difference

Midnight Oil (Benjamin Moore) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Midnight Oil belongs to the grey family and Black grey to the blue-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 8 vs 6 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 9.6 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Midnight Oil vs Black grey in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Midnight Oil and Black grey 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.

Midnight OilMidnight Oil house exterior review

@modernbymiles

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 house exterior

@ebbandflow_home

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.

Midnight OilMidnight Oil kitchen cabinets paint

@stephanie.sarah.home

Black greyRAL Classic 7021 kitchen cabinets paint review

@a.jak.agata

Color Details

Midnight Oil
Benjamin Moore · 1631
Hex#464748
LRV7.7
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1631
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Midnight Oil vs Black grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Midnight Oil on one side and Black grey 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 Midnight Oil comparisons

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

White Dove
Midnight Oil
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Midnight Oil
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Midnight Oil
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Purbeck Stone
Midnight Oil
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Midnight Oil
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Midnight Oil
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Midnight Oil
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Midnight Oil
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Midnight Oil
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Midnight Oil
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Midnight Oil
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Midnight Oil
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Midnight Oil
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Cement grey
Midnight Oil
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Midnight Oil
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Midnight Oil
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Grey Blue
Midnight Oil
Grey Blue
RAL ClassicClassic
Grey Blue
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Windmill Lane
Midnight Oil
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Midnight Oil
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Midnight Oil
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Midnight Oil reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Midnight Oil
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Midnight Oil
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Midnight Oil
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Midnight Oil
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Classic Silver
Midnight Oil
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Midnight Oil
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Midnight Oil
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Midnight Oil
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Midnight Oil
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Midnight Oil
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter