Graphite vs Black grey

GraphiteCloverdale PaintvsBlack greyRAL ClassicΔE 30.3Very different colors

Graphite (Cloverdale Paint) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Graphite belongs to the grey family and Black grey to the blue-grey family. The 13-point LRV gap — 19 for Graphite vs 6 for Black grey — means Graphite will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 30.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Graphite vs Black grey in Real Spaces

1 real room side by side. Seeing Graphite and Black grey in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Living Room

A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Graphite reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.

GraphiteGraphite EX166 by Cloverdale Paint — Living Room

@visualization

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 living room

@dorfstadtvilla

Color Details

Graphite
Cloverdale Paint · EX166
Hex#797977
LRV19.1
BrandCloverdale Paint
NumberEX166
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Graphite vs Black grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Graphite 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 Graphite comparisons

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

White Dove
Graphite
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Graphite
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Graphite
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Graphite reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
Graphite
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Graphite
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Graphite
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Graphite
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Graphite
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Graphite
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Graphite
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Graphite
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Graphite reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Graphite
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Graphite
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Graphite reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Graphite
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Graphite
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Graphite
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Grey Blue
Graphite
Grey Blue
RAL ClassicClassic
Grey Blue
LRV 7

Graphite reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Graphite
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
Graphite
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Graphite
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Graphite reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Graphite
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Graphite
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Nearly identical in tone

Thames Fog
Graphite
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Graphite
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Graphite reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Graphite
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Graphite
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Graphite
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Graphite
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Graphite
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Graphite
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Graphite reads slightly lighter