Paint matching
Why RAL colour names change between languages and shops
RAL numbers stay fixed while the names get translated, shortened and reused by shops. Why the four digits are what to quote, plus a checklist for ordering.
Read the noteRAL Classic colour chart
213 shades, numbered by series, with approximate screen values and notes on getting them into real paint.
Read this first: every swatch here is an approximation drawn by your screen. Monitors, phones, brightness settings and printers all shift colour, and some RAL shades (the luminous, pearl and aluminium ones) cannot be shown on a screen at all. Use this chart to find and compare numbers, then check a physical RAL fan deck or a painted sample before you order.
The 1000 series: yellows and beiges 30 shades
The 1000 numbers run from pale ivories and sandy beiges to strong signal and traffic yellows.
- RAL 1000Green beige
- RAL 1001Beige
- RAL 1002Sand yellow
- RAL 1003Signal yellow
- RAL 1004Golden yellow
- RAL 1005Honey yellow
- RAL 1006Maize yellow
- RAL 1007Daffodil yellow
- RAL 1011Brown beige
- RAL 1012Lemon yellow
- RAL 1013Oyster white
- RAL 1014Ivory
- RAL 1015Light ivory
- RAL 1016Sulfur yellow
- RAL 1017Saffron yellow
- RAL 1018Zinc yellow
- RAL 1019Grey beige
- RAL 1020Olive yellow
- RAL 1021Rape yellow
- RAL 1023Traffic yellow
- RAL 1024Ochre yellow
- RAL 1026Luminous yellow
- RAL 1027Curry
- RAL 1028Melon yellow
- RAL 1032Broom yellow
- RAL 1033Dahlia yellow
- RAL 1034Pastel yellow
- RAL 1035Pearl beige
- RAL 1036Pearl gold
- RAL 1037Sun yellow
The 2000 series: oranges 13 shades
The 2000 numbers hold the oranges, including two of the luminous shades that no screen can show properly.
The 3000 series: reds and pinks 25 shades
The 3000 numbers cover flame and traffic reds, deep wine and purple reds and a few soft pinks.
- RAL 3000Flame red
- RAL 3001Signal red
- RAL 3002Carmine red
- RAL 3003Ruby red
- RAL 3004Purple red
- RAL 3005Wine red
- RAL 3007Black red
- RAL 3009Oxide red
- RAL 3011Brown red
- RAL 3012Beige red
- RAL 3013Tomato red
- RAL 3014Antique pink
- RAL 3015Light pink
- RAL 3016Coral red
- RAL 3017Rose
- RAL 3018Strawberry red
- RAL 3020Traffic red
- RAL 3022Salmon pink
- RAL 3024Luminous red
- RAL 3026Luminous bright red
- RAL 3027Raspberry red
- RAL 3028Pure red
- RAL 3031Orient red
- RAL 3032Pearl ruby red
- RAL 3033Pearl pink
The 4000 series: violets 12 shades
The short 4000 series: lilacs, heather, magenta and the darker purples.
The 5000 series: blues 25 shades
The 5000 numbers go from navy and steel blues to bright traffic and sky blues.
- RAL 5000Violet blue
- RAL 5001Green blue
- RAL 5002Ultramarine blue
- RAL 5003Sapphire blue
- RAL 5004Black blue
- RAL 5005Signal blue
- RAL 5007Brilliant blue
- RAL 5008Grey blue
- RAL 5009Azure blue
- RAL 5010Gentian blue
- RAL 5011Steel blue
- RAL 5012Light blue
- RAL 5013Cobalt blue
- RAL 5014Pigeon blue
- RAL 5015Sky blue
- RAL 5017Traffic blue
- RAL 5018Turquoise blue
- RAL 5019Capri blue
- RAL 5020Ocean blue
- RAL 5021Water blue
- RAL 5022Night blue
- RAL 5023Distant blue
- RAL 5024Pastel blue
- RAL 5025Pearl gentian blue
- RAL 5026Pearl night blue
The 6000 series: greens 36 shades
The 6000 numbers include moss and fir greens for railings, olives, mint and the bright yellow greens.
- RAL 6000Patina green
- RAL 6001Emerald green
- RAL 6002Leaf green
- RAL 6003Olive green
- RAL 6004Blue green
- RAL 6005Moss green
- RAL 6006Grey olive
- RAL 6007Bottle green
- RAL 6008Brown green
- RAL 6009Fir green
- RAL 6010Grass green
- RAL 6011Reseda green
- RAL 6012Black green
- RAL 6013Reed green
- RAL 6014Yellow olive
- RAL 6015Black olive
- RAL 6016Turquoise green
- RAL 6017May green
- RAL 6018Yellow green
- RAL 6019Pastel green
- RAL 6020Chrome green
- RAL 6021Pale green
- RAL 6022Olive drab
- RAL 6024Traffic green
- RAL 6025Fern green
- RAL 6026Opal green
- RAL 6027Light green
- RAL 6028Pine green
- RAL 6029Mint green
- RAL 6032Signal green
- RAL 6033Mint turquoise
- RAL 6034Pastel turquoise
- RAL 6035Pearl green
- RAL 6036Pearl opal green
- RAL 6037Pure green
- RAL 6038Luminous green
The 7000 series: greys 38 shades
The largest group: the 7000 greys, from pale light grey to anthracite and the near blacks.
- RAL 7000Squirrel grey
- RAL 7001Silver grey
- RAL 7002Olive grey
- RAL 7003Moss grey
- RAL 7004Signal grey
- RAL 7005Mouse grey
- RAL 7006Beige grey
- RAL 7008Khaki grey
- RAL 7009Green grey
- RAL 7010Tarpaulin grey
- RAL 7011Iron grey
- RAL 7012Basalt grey
- RAL 7013Brown grey
- RAL 7015Slate grey
- RAL 7016Anthracite grey
- RAL 7021Black grey
- RAL 7022Umbra grey
- RAL 7023Concrete grey
- RAL 7024Graphite grey
- RAL 7026Granite grey
- RAL 7030Stone grey
- RAL 7031Blue grey
- RAL 7032Pebble grey
- RAL 7033Cement grey
- RAL 7034Yellow grey
- RAL 7035Light grey
- RAL 7036Platinum grey
- RAL 7037Dusty grey
- RAL 7038Agate grey
- RAL 7039Quartz grey
- RAL 7040Window grey
- RAL 7042Traffic grey a
- RAL 7043Traffic grey b
- RAL 7044Silk grey
- RAL 7045Telegrey 1
- RAL 7046Telegrey 2
- RAL 7047Telegrey 4
- RAL 7048Pearl mouse grey
The 8000 series: browns 20 shades
The 8000 numbers: ochre and clay browns, copper and chestnut, and the dark chocolate browns.
- RAL 8000Green brown
- RAL 8001Ochre brown
- RAL 8002Signal brown
- RAL 8003Clay brown
- RAL 8004Copper brown
- RAL 8007Fawn brown
- RAL 8008Olive brown
- RAL 8011Nut brown
- RAL 8012Red brown
- RAL 8014Sepia brown
- RAL 8015Chestnut brown
- RAL 8016Mahogany brown
- RAL 8017Chocolate brown
- RAL 8019Grey brown
- RAL 8022Black brown
- RAL 8023Orange brown
- RAL 8024Beige brown
- RAL 8025Pale brown
- RAL 8028Terra brown
- RAL 8029Pearl copper
The 9000 series: whites and blacks 14 shades
The 9000 numbers collect whites, creams, blacks and the two aluminium metallics.
Match lab
Paste a hex value from a website or a photo and see the nearest RAL Classic numbers by colour difference, or look up the approximate hex, RGB and CMYK values for any RAL number.
Tool shelf
The short list of things that make colour matching easier: a physical fan deck, a colour sensor, spray and powder kit, and a respirator for the messy parts.
Latest colour notes
Workshop notes
Which primer colour to use under a RAL topcoat
Primer shade decides how many topcoats you need and whether a yellow or red ever looks right. How to pick white, light, mid or dark grey under a RAL colour.
Read the note
Colour at home
Grey and olive RAL shades for sheds and outbuildings
Six quiet greys and greens that sit well in a garden, how foliage, brick and sky shift them, and how to test a shed colour before you paint it.
Read the note
Doors, windows and railings
Choosing a garage door colour that suits the house
Match the windows or contrast on purpose, test a big card outside, and check the door maker's RAL list before you commit to a garage door colour.
Read the note
Spray and restoration
Luminous RAL colours and why screens cannot show them
The five luminous RAL Classic shades glow because their pigments turn invisible light into colour. Here is why no screen can show them and how to paint them.
Read the note
Doors, windows and railings
Spray painting metal railings in a RAL colour
A practical guide to repainting steel railings in a RAL colour: weather, rust removal, degreasing, masking, primer, spray or brush, coats and paint quantities.
Read the noteSwatch Ledger is an unofficial reference. RAL is a trademark of RAL gGmbH; the swatches and values here are our own screen approximations, not RAL publications. More about the ledger.