HEX to RAL Colour Converter

Convert a HEX colour code to the nearest RAL Classic colour, with colour names.

HEX colour

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How the nearest RAL match is calculated

Your colour is compared against all 217 RAL Classic colours and the closest one is returned, using a weighted RGB distance (the "redmean" approximation) which weights the channels closer to how the eye perceives them than a plain Euclidean distance would. Everything runs in your browser.

Important: RAL colours are not RGB values

RAL Classic colours are defined by physical paint samples, not by screen values. The hex values used here are the widely used screen approximations from Wikipedia's List of RAL colours, and the same RAL code can look noticeably different when printed on different substrates. Use this converter for on-screen reference only — for paint mixing, printing or production work, always confirm against a physical RAL fan deck.

See the full RAL Classic chart (all 217 colours) →

How it works

The HEX code is expanded to RGB, then matched against all 217 RAL Classic colours by weighted RGB distance.

Examples

Input	Output
#CDBA88	RAL 1000 Green beige
#D0B084	RAL 1001 Beige
#F4A900	RAL 1003 Signal yellow

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every HEX value have a RAL equivalent?

No - the RAL Classic range contains 217 colours, so most HEX values have no exact RAL counterpart. This tool always returns the closest one.

Is the match official?

No. It is a computed nearest match for on-screen reference. RAL colours are defined by physical paint samples.

Can I use 3-digit HEX?

Yes - shorthand like #D0B is expanded to #DD00BB before matching.