RAL 870-2 vs Acier

RAL 870-2RAL EffectvsAcierSherwin-WilliamsΔE 4.6Noticeable difference

RAL 870-2 (RAL Effect) and Acier (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 30 vs 32 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 4.6 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

RAL 870-2 vs Acier in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. RAL 870-2 and Acier 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.

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. The distinction reads clearly at room scale, making the choice between them concrete.

RAL 870-2RAL Effect 870-2 living room

@visualization

AcierSW Acier wall paint

@fspomaha

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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

RAL 870-2RAL Effect 870-2 victorian house interior

@visualization

AcierSW Acier garage door exterior paint

@vivaxpros_atx

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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

RAL 870-2RAL Effect 870-2 kitchen cabinets

@visualization

AcierSW Acier painted cabinets

@webbstead

Color Details

RAL 870-2
RAL Effect · RAL 870-2
Hex#969392
LRV29.7
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 870-2
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
Acier
Sherwin-Williams · 9170
Hex#9E9991
LRV32.0
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9170
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

RAL 870-2 vs Acier Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 870-2 on one side and Acier 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 RAL 870-2 comparisons

See how RAL 870-2 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
RAL 870-2
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
RAL 870-2
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
RAL 870-2
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

RAL 870-2 reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
RAL 870-2
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
RAL 870-2
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Nearly identical in tone

Mizzle
RAL 870-2
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
RAL 870-2
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
RAL 870-2
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Tranquil Dawn
RAL 870-2
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
RAL 870-2
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
RAL 870-2
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

RAL 870-2 reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
RAL 870-2
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Nearly identical in tone

Pine Needle
RAL 870-2
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

RAL 870-2 reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
RAL 870-2
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

RAL 870-2 reads slightly lighter

Black grey
RAL 870-2
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

RAL 870-2 reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
RAL 870-2
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
RAL 870-2
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
RAL 870-2
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Nearly identical in tone

Senses
RAL 870-2
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads slightly lighter

Lamp Black
RAL 870-2
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

RAL 870-2 is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
RAL 870-2
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
RAL 870-2
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

RAL 870-2 reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
RAL 870-2
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Ocean Abyss
RAL 870-2
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

RAL 870-2 reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
RAL 870-2
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
RAL 870-2
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Nearly identical in tone

RAL 110-2
RAL 870-2
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
RAL 870-2
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
RAL 870-2
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
RAL 870-2
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

RAL 870-2 reads noticeably lighter