Graphite black vs Black grey

RAL Classic
·
RAL Classic

Both from RAL Classic's palette. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (5 vs 6), so they'll read as similarly dark in most lighting conditions. The ΔE 4.1 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice.

Graphite black vs Black grey Color Comparison

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.

ΔE 4.1Noticeable difference

Color Details

Graphite black
RAL Classic · RAL 9011
Hex#27292B
LRV4.9
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 9011
Undertone
Temperature
Brightnessdark
View Graphite black
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
Brightnessdark
View Black grey

Graphite black vs Black grey in Real Spaces

Graphite black and Black grey are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone. These real-room photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions. Showing 3 room types where both colors have photos.

House

Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.

Graphite black
RAL Classic  Graphite black RAL 9011 door

@dom_w_zonkilach

Black grey
RAL Classic  Black grey RAL 7021 house exterior

@ebbandflow_home

Front Door

A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

Graphite black
RAL 9011 front door paint

@aadoubleglazing

Black grey
RAL Classic  Black grey RAL 7021 front door

@doing_up_the_doer_upper

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.

Graphite black
RAL 9011 kitchen cabinets review

@alexmebel161

Black grey
RAL 7021 kitchen cabinets paint review

@a.jak.agata

More Graphite black comparisons

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

White Dove
Graphite black
White Dove

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Benjamin Moore

Ammonite
Graphite black
Ammonite

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Farrow & Ball

Iron Ore
Graphite black
Iron Ore

RAL Classic vs Sherwin-Williams

RAL Classic vs Sherwin-Williams

Purbeck Stone
Graphite black
Purbeck Stone

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Farrow & Ball

Evergreen Fog
Graphite black
Evergreen Fog

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Sherwin-Williams

Mizzle
Graphite black
Mizzle

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Farrow & Ball

Agreeable Gray
Graphite black
Agreeable Gray

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Sherwin-Williams

Denim Drift
Graphite black
Denim Drift

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Dulux

Tranquil Dawn
Graphite black
Tranquil Dawn

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Dulux

Balboa Mist
Graphite black
Balboa Mist

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Benjamin Moore

Vintage Vogue
Graphite black
Vintage Vogue

RAL Classic vs Benjamin Moore

RAL Classic vs Benjamin Moore

Pale Green
Graphite black
Pale Green

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic

Pine Needle
Graphite black
Pine Needle

RAL Classic vs Dulux

RAL Classic vs Dulux

Cement grey
Graphite black
Cement grey

Cement grey reads lighter

RAL Classic

Humble Yellow
Graphite black
Humble Yellow

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Jotun

Grey Blue
Graphite black
Grey Blue

Two RAL Classic colors

RAL Classic

Windmill Lane
Graphite black
Windmill Lane

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Little Greene

Senses
Graphite black
Senses

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Jotun

Lamp Black
Graphite black
Lamp Black

RAL Classic vs Little Greene

RAL Classic vs Little Greene

Washed Linen
Graphite black
Washed Linen

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Jotun

Tea with Florence
Graphite black
Tea with Florence

Tea with Florence reads lighter

RAL Classic vs Little Greene

Ocean Abyss
Graphite black
Ocean Abyss

RAL Classic vs Behr

RAL Classic vs Behr

Classic Silver
Graphite black
Classic Silver

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Behr

Teton Blue
Graphite black
Teton Blue

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs Behr

RAL 110-2
Graphite black
RAL 110-2

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs RAL Effect

RAL 110-1
Graphite black
RAL 110-1

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs RAL Effect

RAL 180-1
Graphite black
RAL 180-1

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs RAL Effect

S 8000-N
Graphite black
S 8000-N

RAL Classic vs NCS

RAL Classic vs NCS

S 0500-N
Graphite black
S 0500-N

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs NCS

S 0502-Y
Graphite black
S 0502-Y

Light vs dark contrast

RAL Classic vs NCS