S 3000-N vs Black grey

S 3000-NNCSvsBlack greyRAL ClassicΔE 51.4Very different colors

S 3000-N (NCS) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, S 3000-N belongs to the grey family and Black grey to the blue-grey family. The 37-point LRV gap — 44 for S 3000-N vs 6 for Black grey — means S 3000-N will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 51.4 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.

S 3000-N vs Black grey in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing S 3000-N 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. S 3000-N reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.

S 3000-NNCS S 3000-N living room interior

@villahelander

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 living room

@dorfstadtvilla

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. S 3000-N returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

S 3000-NNCS S 3000-N exterior color review

@villa_fredriksdal

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 house exterior

@ebbandflow_home

Color Details

S 3000-N
NCS · S 3000-N
Hex#b1b0ae
LRV43.5
BrandNCS
NumberS 3000-N
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

S 3000-N vs Black grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 3000-N 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 S 3000-N comparisons

See how S 3000-N stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
S 3000-N
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
S 3000-N
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
S 3000-N
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

S 3000-N is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
S 3000-N
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
S 3000-N
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

S 3000-N reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
S 3000-N
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
S 3000-N
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
S 3000-N
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

S 3000-N reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
S 3000-N
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
S 3000-N
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
S 3000-N
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

S 3000-N is the lighter choice

Pale Green
S 3000-N
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

S 3000-N reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
S 3000-N
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

S 3000-N is the lighter choice

Cement grey
S 3000-N
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

S 3000-N reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
S 3000-N
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
S 3000-N
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Grey Blue
S 3000-N
Grey Blue
RAL ClassicClassic
Grey Blue
LRV 7

S 3000-N is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
S 3000-N
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

S 3000-N reads noticeably lighter

Senses
S 3000-N
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
S 3000-N
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

S 3000-N is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
S 3000-N
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
S 3000-N
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

S 3000-N is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
S 3000-N
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

S 3000-N reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
S 3000-N
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

S 3000-N is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
S 3000-N
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
S 3000-N
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

S 3000-N reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
S 3000-N
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
S 3000-N
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
S 3000-N
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
S 3000-N
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

S 3000-N is the lighter choice