Anthracite grey vs Graphite black

Anthracite greyRAL ClassicvsGraphite blackRAL ClassicΔE 9.6Noticeable difference

Both are RAL Classic colors. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. At LRV 8 vs 5, Anthracite grey will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 9.6, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Anthracite grey vs Graphite black in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Anthracite grey and Graphite black 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

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Anthracite grey gives the walls a little more lift.

Anthracite greyRAL Classic 7016 garage door color

@a_s_doors_ltd

Graphite blackRAL Classic Graphite black 9011 door

@dom_w_zonkilach

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Anthracite grey has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Anthracite greyRAL Classic 7016 front door inspiration

@c_refinish

Graphite blackRAL Classic 9011 front door paint

@aadoubleglazing

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The brightness difference is modest but present — Anthracite grey gives the walls a little more lift.

Anthracite greyRAL Classic Anthracite grey kitchen cabinets

@wesprayupvc

Graphite blackRAL Classic 9011 kitchen cabinets review

@alexmebel161

Color Details

Anthracite grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7016
Hex#383E42
LRV8.1
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7016
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark
Graphite black
RAL Classic · RAL 9011
Hex#27292B
LRV4.9
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 9011
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Anthracite grey vs Graphite black Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Anthracite grey on one side and Graphite black 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 Anthracite grey comparisons

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

White Dove
Anthracite grey
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Anthracite grey
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Anthracite grey
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Purbeck Stone
Anthracite grey
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Anthracite grey
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Anthracite grey
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Anthracite grey
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Accessible Beige
Anthracite grey
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Anthracite grey
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

French Gray
Anthracite grey
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

French Gray is the lighter choice

Naval
Anthracite grey
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Anthracite grey reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Anthracite grey
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Bancha
Anthracite grey
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Bancha reads slightly lighter

Hardwick White
Anthracite grey
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Hardwick White is the lighter choice

Pure White
Anthracite grey
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
Anthracite grey
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Artichoke reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Anthracite grey
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Shoji White
Anthracite grey
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White is the lighter choice

Snowbound
Anthracite grey
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
Anthracite grey
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

Pewter Green reads slightly lighter

Skimming Stone
Anthracite grey
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
Anthracite grey
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Dix Blue is the lighter choice

Calamine
Anthracite grey
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine is the lighter choice

Treron
Anthracite grey
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Treron reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Anthracite grey
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter

Saybrook Sage
Anthracite grey
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Saybrook Sage is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Anthracite grey
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Anthracite grey
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Cement grey
Anthracite grey
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Guilford Green
Anthracite grey
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green is the lighter choice