Top RAL Colours for Aluminium Windows (2008–2026)
Trend analysis of the most specified colours on commercial aluminium window projects across 18 years of project data.
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Colours & Specification
RAL Colours: The Complete Guide for Commercial Metalwork
What RAL is, how the system works, and a full Classic RAL reference chart, organised by range, with practical guidance on specifying colours correctly for aluminium windows, cladding, doors, and architectural metalwork.
What is RAL?
RAL is a European colour matching system that dates back to 1925. It was created by a German standards body (the Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung) and has since become the default language for specifying colour on commercial metalwork across Europe and the UK.
If you work with aluminium windows, cladding, curtain walling, shop fronts, roller shutters, or entrance doors, you will almost certainly specify colour by RAL code. Architects do it, facilities managers do it, and contractors expect it.
Each RAL colour has a four-digit code. The first digit tells you the colour family (range), and the remaining three identify the specific shade. RAL 7016, for example, sits in the Grey range (7000) and is one of the most popular choices we see on commercial aluminium window projects.
RAL Classic vs RAL Design System+
Most widely used
RAL Classic
The original system, launched in 1927. 215 colours across nine ranges (1000–9000). This is what powder coaters, paint suppliers, and spraying contractors work from day to day. If someone hands you a RAL code on a spec sheet, it is almost certainly a Classic code.
Four-digit codes. Supported by every commercial coating system we use.
Extended range
RAL Design System+
Over 1,800 colours organised by hue, lightness, and chroma instead of family number. Architects and designers use it when they need a precise match that Classic does not cover. You will rarely see it on a standard commercial refurbishment spec.
Seven-digit codes. Check coating system compatibility before specifying.
Important: Screen colours cannot accurately replicate RAL colours. Monitor calibration, display type, ambient lighting, and screen brightness all affect how a colour appears on screen. The swatches on this page are for reference and orientation only. Always specify from a physical RAL colour fan or swatch book, and confirm the chosen colour against a physical spray-out sample before committing to a full project.
The nine RAL Classic ranges
RAL Classic splits into nine colour families. In practice, the 7000 (Grey) and 9000 (White & Black) ranges dominate commercial metalwork specifications. That said, we spray colours from every range, and all are available through our coating systems. Hover over any swatch below to see the code and name.
1000
Yellow & Beige
Warm yellows, sandy tones, and ivory shades. Occasional use on signage, retail fascias, and heritage-style metalwork.
1000Green Beige
1001Beige
1002Sand Yellow
1003Signal Yellow
1004Golden Yellow
1007Daffodil Yellow
1013Oyster White
1014Ivory
1015Light Ivory
1021Rape Yellow
1023Traffic Yellow
1024Ochre Yellow
2000
Orange
Bright oranges and deep amber tones. Used on safety equipment, plant machinery, and occasional signage applications.
2000Yellow Orange
2001Red Orange
2002Vermilion
2003Pastel Orange
2004Pure Orange
2009Traffic Orange
2011Deep Orange
2012Salmon Orange
3000
Used in retail & brand matching
Red
From flame red to deep wine tones. Used on shopfronts, entrance doors, safety-critical metalwork, and brand-colour matching for retail.
3000Flame Red
3001Signal Red
3002Carmine Red
3003Ruby Red
3005Wine Red
3007Black Red
3009Oxide Red
3011Brown Red
3013Tomato Red
3020Traffic Red
3027Raspberry Red
3031Orient Red
4000
Violet
Lilac, purple, and violet tones. Infrequently specified for commercial metalwork, mainly for brand colour matching on specialist retail or leisure projects.
4001Red Lilac
4002Red Violet
4004Claret Violet
4005Blue Lilac
4006Traffic Purple
4007Purple Violet
4009Pastel Violet
4011Pearl Violet
5000
5011 & 5015 common in commercial
Blue
The full spectrum from dark navy to pale sky blue. Steel Blue (5011) and Sky Blue (5015) appear regularly on commercial projects. Deep blues are used on coastal and industrial buildings.
5000Violet Blue
5001Green Blue
5002Ultramarine Blue
5003Sapphire Blue
5005Signal Blue
5007Brilliant Blue
5008Grey Blue
5010Gentian Blue
5011Steel Blue
5013Cobalt Blue
5014Pigeon Blue
5015Sky Blue
5017Traffic Blue
5021Water Blue
5022Night Blue
5024Pastel Blue
6000
Growing trend 2022–2026
Green
From deep fir and bottle greens to lighter traffic and signal greens. Growing significantly in commercial specification from 2020 onwards, driven by biophilic design and ESG positioning.
6001Emerald Green
6002Leaf Green
6003Olive Green
6004Blue Green
6005Moss Green
6007Bottle Green
6009Fir Green
6010Grass Green
6011Reseda Green
6016Turquoise Green
6017May Green
6018Yellow Green
6024Traffic Green
6028Pine Green
6032Signal Green
6033Mint Turquoise
7000
Most specified range
Grey
The largest and most commercially specified range. Anthracite Grey (7016) and Black Grey (7021) dominate modern commercial metalwork. Light Grey (7035) is widely used on industrial buildings and plant.
7000Squirrel Grey
7001Silver Grey
7002Olive Grey
7003Moss Grey
7005Mouse Grey
7006Beige Grey
7011Iron Grey
7012Basalt Grey
7015Slate Grey
7016Anthracite Grey
7021Black Grey
7022Umbra Grey
7023Concrete Grey
7024Graphite Grey
7030Stone Grey
7031Blue Grey
7032Pebble Grey
7035Light Grey
7036Platinum Grey
7037Dusty Grey
7039Quartz Grey
7040Window Grey
7042Traffic Grey A
7043Traffic Grey B
7045Telegrey 1
7046Telegrey 2
8000
Brown
Earth tones from warm ochre to deep chocolate. Grey Brown (8019) has seen growing use on commercial metalwork as the warm neutral trend has developed.
8000Green Brown
8001Ochre Brown
8003Clay Brown
8004Copper Brown
8007Fawn Brown
8015Chestnut Brown
8016Mahogany Brown
8017Chocolate Brown
8019Grey Brown
8022Black Brown
8023Orange Brown
8024Beige Brown
9000
Highest specification volume
White & Black
The single most specified range on commercial metalwork. Jet Black (9005), Pure White (9010), and Signal White (9003) consistently occupy the top positions across all project types.
9001Cream
9002Grey White
9003Signal White
9004Signal Black
9005Jet Black
9006White Aluminium
9007Grey Aluminium
9010Pure White
9011Graphite Black
9016Traffic White
9017Traffic Black
9018Papyrus White
Most specified RAL colours for commercial metalwork
This table is drawn from our own project records from 2008 to 2026. These are the colours that come up again and again on aluminium windows, cladding, shop fronts, and entrance metalwork across UK commercial buildings.
| RAL Code | Name | Range | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAL 9005 | Jet Black | White & Black | Aluminium windows, shop fronts, entrance doors, all building types |
| RAL 9010 | Pure White | White & Black | Institutional buildings, healthcare, schools, public sector offices |
| RAL 7016 | Anthracite Grey | Grey | Mid-market commercial refurbishment across all metalwork types |
| RAL 7021 | Black Grey | Grey | Modern commercial offices, premium retail, alternative to 9005 |
| RAL 7037 | Dusty Grey | Grey | Industrial cladding, roller shutters, secondary metalwork |
| RAL 7022 | Umbra Grey | Grey | Emerging alternative to 7016, warmer undertone, brick and stone settings |
| RAL 6009 | Fir Green | Green | Commercial offices, mixed-use, hospitality, biophilic design influence |
| RAL 8019 | Grey Brown | Brown | Hospitality, mixed-use, render-clad buildings |
| RAL 7006 | Beige Grey | Grey | Warm neutral for hospitality and residential-led developments |
| RAL 7035 | Light Grey | Grey | Industrial units, plant rooms, warehouse cladding |
How to specify a RAL colour correctly
Browsing swatches on screen is fine for narrowing down your shortlist, but do not make a final decision from a monitor. Colours shift between screens, and even slight calibration differences change the result noticeably.
Here is how we recommend specifying on a commercial project:
- Get a physical RAL Classic fan or swatch book. Any specialist coating supplier or large paint merchant stocks them.
- View the swatch at the building itself. A colour reads completely differently on a north-facing elevation compared to a south-facing one, and artificial light shifts it again.
- Ask your coating contractor for a spray-out sample before committing. A small panel sprayed in the specified colour and finish shows you the real-world result.
- Confirm gloss level at the same time. Matt, satin, and gloss finishes change a colour dramatically. RAL 7016 in matt looks darker and flatter than the same code in satin.
- Write the full RAL code on every document. "Dark grey" is not a specification. "RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey, satin finish, two-pack acrylic system" is.
RAL is a registered trademark of RAL GmbH. The colour names and codes shown on this page are for reference purposes only. All swatches are indicative screen representations and should not be used as a substitute for physical RAL colour samples.
Related reading
More from our resources on colour specification and commercial metalwork.
Gloss Levels for Aluminium Windows
Matt, satin, or gloss, how finish level affects the appearance and durability of your specified RAL colour in practice.
Read ArticlePopular Shop Front Colours
Which RAL colours are most commonly specified for retail shop fronts, and what works best for high-footfall locations.
Read ArticleReady to specify a colour for your project?
Tell us your building type, substrate, and preferred RAL code. We provide free site surveys, spray-out samples, and detailed written quotations across mainland Britain.