Anthracite grey vs Black Magic

Anthracite grey is a RAL Classic color while Black Magic comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Anthracite grey belongs to the blue-grey family and Black Magic to the grey family. At LRV 8 vs 3, Anthracite grey will read as the brighter of the two — a 5-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 6.4, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Anthracite grey vs Black Magic in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Anthracite grey and Black Magic 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.

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The brightness difference is modest but present — Anthracite grey gives the walls a little more lift.

Anthracite greyRAL Classic Anthracite grey 7016 kitchen splashback

@splashbacksofdistinction

Black MagicSW Black Magic kitchen island

@redrosesandrust

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

Black MagicSherwin Williams SW 6991 exterior paint

@cambridgeclassichomes

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

Black MagicSW 6991 front door

@inspiringaccents

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

Black MagicSW 6991 kitchen cabinets paint

@rosewoodcustombuilders

Color Details

Anthracite grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7016
Hex#383E42
LRV8.1
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7016
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark
Black Magic
Sherwin-Williams · 6991
Hex#323132
LRV3.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6991
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Anthracite grey vs Black Magic Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Anthracite grey on one side and Black Magic 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

Denim Drift
Anthracite grey
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Anthracite grey
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

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

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

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

Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter

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

Black grey
Anthracite grey
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Piazza
Anthracite grey
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Anthracite grey
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Anthracite grey
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Anthracite grey
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Anthracite grey
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Anthracite grey reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Anthracite grey
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Anthracite grey
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Anthracite grey
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Anthracite grey
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Classic Silver
Anthracite grey
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Anthracite grey
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Anthracite grey
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Anthracite grey
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Anthracite grey
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Anthracite grey
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter