Earl Blue vs Anthracite grey

Earl BlueDuluxvsAnthracite greyRAL ClassicΔE 42.9Very different colors

Earl Blue (Dulux) and Anthracite grey (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. The 33-point LRV gap — 41 for Earl Blue vs 8 for Anthracite grey — means Earl Blue will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 42.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Earl Blue vs Anthracite grey in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Earl Blue and Anthracite grey in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Kitchen

Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Earl Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Earl BlueDulux Earl Blue kitchen color review

@eapdecorating

Anthracite greyRAL Classic Anthracite grey 7016 kitchen splashback

@splashbacksofdistinction

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. Earl Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Earl BlueDulux Earl Blue kitchen cabinets photo

@matthew_spray_painting

Anthracite greyRAL Classic Anthracite grey kitchen cabinets

@wesprayupvc

Color Details

Earl Blue
Dulux · 90BG 41/040
Hex#A0A9AE
LRV41.0
BrandDulux
Number90BG 41/040
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Anthracite grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7016
Hex#383E42
LRV8.1
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7016
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Earl Blue vs Anthracite grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Earl Blue on one side and Anthracite 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 Earl Blue comparisons

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

White Dove
Earl Blue
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Earl Blue
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Earl Blue
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Earl Blue is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Earl Blue
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Earl Blue
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Earl Blue reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Earl Blue
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Earl Blue
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Earl Blue
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Earl Blue reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Earl Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Earl Blue
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Earl Blue
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Earl Blue is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Earl Blue
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Earl Blue reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Earl Blue
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Earl Blue is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Earl Blue
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Earl Blue reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Earl Blue
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Earl Blue is the lighter choice

Piazza
Earl Blue
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Earl Blue
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Earl Blue
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Earl Blue reads slightly lighter

Senses
Earl Blue
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Earl Blue
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Earl Blue is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Earl Blue
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Earl Blue
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Earl Blue reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Earl Blue
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Earl Blue reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Earl Blue
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Earl Blue is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Earl Blue
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Earl Blue
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Earl Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Earl Blue
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Earl Blue
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Earl Blue
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Earl Blue
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Earl Blue is the lighter choice