RAL color systems

RAL is a color matching system which defines colors for paint, coatings and plastics. The RAL standard is admini­strated by the RAL Deutsches Institut für Güte­siche­rung und Kenn­zeich­nung, located in Bonn (Germany).

'RAL' is the abbreviation of 'Reichs-Ausschuß für Liefer­bedingungen und Güte­sicherung'. This name can be translated in English as 'National Commission for Delivery Terms and Quality Assurance'.

RAL Classic

RAL Classic (216)

In 1927 the German RAL organization invented a collection of 40 colors. Prior to that date manufacturers and customers had to exchange color samples to describe a tint, whereas from then on they would rely on numbers. With tints constantly added to the collection, the collection was revised in 1961. In the 1960s the colors were given supplemental names to avoid confusion in case of transposed digits. Since the expansion in 2020, RAL Classic consists of 216 colors.

all RAL Classic colors
RAL Design

RAL Design (1,825)

In 1993 RAL introduced a new color matching system, tailored to the needs of architects, designers and advertisers. The RAL Design collection includes 1,825 colors. The colors of RAL Classic and RAL Design do not intersect.

all RAL Design colors
RAL Effect

RAL Effect (490)

RAL Effect contains 420 solid colors and 70 metallic colors. It is the first color system from RAL to be based on waterborne paint. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and chromates are not used.

all RAL Effect colors
RAL Plastics P1

RAL Plastics P1 (100)

RAL Plastics is the color standard for plastics. The multifunctional plates made of polypropylene ensure the best possible translation of RAL paint color shades into an identical shade for plastics. RAL Plastics P1 contains the 100 favorite RAL Classic colors.

all RAL Plastics P1 colors
RAL Plastics P2

RAL Plastics P2 (200)

RAL Plastics is the color standard for plastics. The multifunctional plates made of polypropylene ensure the best possible translation of RAL paint color shades into an identical shade for plastics. RAL Plastics P2 shows 200 RAL Design colors as a plastic standard.

all RAL Plastics P2 colors