How do I find the RAL color closest to my HEX?

Enter the HEX value. It is compared with the 127 RAL Classic colors in our list using CIEDE2000, and the five closest are shown with their ΔE. Under 1 the difference is not visible; above 6 the RAL color is clearly different.

Are these official RAL colors?

No. RAL colors are defined by physical samples, and RAL gGmbH does not publish screen values we can use. Each value here comes from one of three open lists (the code page names which) and is compared with the other two: for 102 of 127 codes at least one other list is within ΔE 3. Between the two largest lists, ral-colors and ralative, the median difference is ΔE 4.6. The lists are not fully independent, and lists agreeing does not mean the color is right. Check an original RAL color fan before ordering.

Why do websites show different HEX codes for the same RAL color?

There is no official screen value, so every HEX code for a RAL color is someone’s estimate, and lists copy from different places; some even contain copy errors (one open list repeats the HEX of one code for several others). That is why every code page here shows what three open lists say and how far apart they are.

HEX to RAL: Find the Closest RAL Color

Enter a HEX color to see the five closest RAL Classic colors, ranked by CIEDE2000 ΔE — the perceptual difference between two colors. Under 1 is not visible, under 3 is a good match. RAL values on screens are approximations, so check a physical RAL fan before ordering paint or powder coating.

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Closest RAL Classic colors

Approximate, not official. RAL colors are physical samples, and RAL gGmbH does not publish screen values we could use, so these come from open lists that do not always agree. Check an original RAL color fan before ordering paint or powder coating.

HEX to RAL examples

Closest RAL Classic color for common HEX values, by CIEDE2000 ΔE. Bright screen colors often have no close RAL color.
HEX	Closest RAL	RAL ≈ HEX	ΔE
#FFFFFF	RAL 9003 Signal white	#F4F4F4	2.2
#000000	RAL 9005 Jet black	#0A0A0D	2.1
#808080	RAL 7037 Dusty grey	#7C7F7E	2.0
#B22222	RAL 3000 Flame red	#A02725	3.6
#1E90FF	RAL 5012 Light blue	#3481B8	8.8
#228B22	RAL 6010 Grass green	#426E38	12.2
#FFD700	RAL 1023 Traffic yellow	#F2BF00	6.3
#8B4513	RAL 8007 Fawn brown	#6F4A2F	9.1

Where the numbers come from

Each RAL value comes from one of three open lists and is compared with the other two (they are not fully independent: ral-colors takes its HEX values from Wikipedia's list). A code marked «Open lists agree» is within ΔE 3 in at least one of them (102 of 127); for the others the screen color is less certain, and the code page shows how far apart the lists are. Matches are found by converting colors to CIELAB and comparing them with CIEDE2000. CMYK is a plain conversion of the screen color, not a print separation.

HEX to RAL: questions

How do I find the RAL color closest to my HEX?: Enter the HEX value. It is compared with the 127 RAL Classic colors in our list using CIEDE2000, and the five closest are shown with their ΔE. Under 1 the difference is not visible; above 6 the RAL color is clearly different.
Are these official RAL colors?: No. RAL colors are defined by physical samples, and RAL gGmbH does not publish screen values we can use. Each value here comes from one of three open lists (the code page names which) and is compared with the other two: for 102 of 127 codes at least one other list is within ΔE 3. Between the two largest lists, ral-colors and ralative, the median difference is ΔE 4.6. The lists are not fully independent, and lists agreeing does not mean the color is right. Check an original RAL color fan before ordering.
Why do websites show different HEX codes for the same RAL color?: There is no official screen value, so every HEX code for a RAL color is someone’s estimate, and lists copy from different places; some even contain copy errors (one open list repeats the HEX of one code for several others). That is why every code page here shows what three open lists say and how far apart they are.

RAL color values from ral-colors by Ibon Eskudero, Copyright (c) 2022 Ibon Eskudero, MIT License, ralative by Asaf Prihadash, Copyright 2021 Asaf Prihadash, MIT License, and the RAL list in Bit&Black colorpalette by Tobias Köngeter, MIT License; each code page names its list. Codes whose open values we could not confirm are left out.

RAL is a trademark of RAL gGmbH. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by RAL. RAL colors are defined by physical color samples; all values here are approximate screen colors, so check an original RAL color fan before ordering paint or coating. Pantone® is a trademark of Pantone LLC; this site is not affiliated with Pantone.