Grey

RAL 7042

Traffic Grey A

RAL 7042 Traffic Grey A is a standardized medium grey from the RAL traffic color family, designed for consistent application across European road infrastructure and public transportation systems. This neutral, functional grey serves as a background color for traffic signs, road barriers, and transit equipment where a non-distracting, professional finish is required. Traffic Grey A provides good visibility for mounted signage and reflective elements while blending unobtrusively into urban environments.

Time9:36 AM
Light
Technical Reference

Color Reference

Hex#8E9291
RGBrgb(142, 146, 145)
HSLhsl(165°, 2%, 56%)
CMYKcmyk(3%, 0%, 1%, 43%)
Color Analysis
RGB Composition
R
142
G
146
B
145
Temperature
WarmCool
Contrast Accessibility
White text
3.1:1Fail
Black text
6.7:1Pass

WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 contrast for normal text. Results show this color as a background.

Spectrum & Perceptual Position

Hue Spectrum
60°120°180°240°300°360°
CIELAB a*b* Chromaticity
-4004080-4004080a* (Green ← → Red)b* (Blue ← → Yellow)
L* (Lightness)60
a* (Green-Red)-2
b* (Blue-Yellow)0
L* (LCh)60
C* (Chroma)2
h° (Hue)179°

CIELAB is a perceptually uniform color space. Euclidean distance between two colors in this diagram closely matches human visual difference. The dot size shows your selected color; slightly larger dots are the nearest perceptual neighbors.

Color Harmonies

Build a Palette Around Traffic Grey A

Palette Generator

Select a harmony type, then press Space to reroll unlocked colors.

1 locked / 4 free

Reference + opposite hue with tonal variations

Reference
#2
Complementary
#3
Complementary
#4
Complementary
#5
Split Comp +
Pairwise Contrast Ratios
1.1:1
·
1.5:1
·
2.5:1
·
1.7:1

Contrast ratios follow WCAG 2.1 guidelines. Green (≥4.5:1) passes AA for normal text. Amber (≥3:1) passes for large text only. Grey indicates low contrast.

Ready to Coat in Traffic Grey A?

Get a free, no-obligation quote for your project. Upload photos, describe your parts, and we will respond within one business day.

Recommended Powders

Recommended for RAL 7042

Exact (3)

RAL 7042 Grey 80 GlossExact Match
SKU: P008-GR21Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder80 glosssmooth
RAL 7042 SatinExact Match
SKU: RAS3-00003Sherwin-WilliamsPowduraAAMA 260325-35 glosssmooth
RAL 7042 High GlossExact Match
SKU: RAS8-80014Sherwin-WilliamsPowduraAAMA 260386-99 glosssmooth

Close (43)

Gray Cat IIClose Match
SKU: PFH674S4Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta30-45 glosssmooth
ASA-70 GrayClose Match
SKU: PFH502S8Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta80-89 glosssmooth
ASA-61 GrayClose Match
SKU: PFH509S5Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta50-59 glosssmooth
Zinc GrayClose Match
SKU: EFH615P6Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta60-69 glossprotective/functional
90.006 Grey Fine TexturedClose Match
SKU: IE03217040121Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta3-5 glossfine texture
90.022 Grey MetallicClose Match
SKU: IE80217001021Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta80-90 glossmetallic
90.006 Grey MetallicClose Match
SKU: IF60217059821Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta60-70 glossmetallic
Grey AnodicClose Match
SKU: IE30107061825Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta30-40 glossanodic
Grey MetallicClose Match
SKU: IE00110733227Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta0-10 glossmetallic
Bay Gray TextureClose Match
SKU: C241-GR305Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder5-10 glosstexture
Gray TextureClose Match
SKU: C241-GR07Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder5-10 glosstexture
Telephone Gray TextureClose Match
SKU: C241-GR85Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder5-10 glosstexture
ANSI 49 Gray 40 GlossClose Match
SKU: P004-GR09Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder40 glosssemi-gloss smooth
Gray HammerClose Match
SKU: C013-GR08Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder10-20 glosshammertone
Gray HammertoneClose Match
SKU: T064-GR05Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder10-20 glosshammertone
Gray Hammertone AltClose Match
SKU: T064-GR660Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder10-20 glosshammertone
ANSI 61 Gray 40 GlossClose Match
SKU: P004-GR16Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder40 glosssmooth
ANSI 61 Gray High GlossClose Match
SKU: T009-GR736Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder90 glosssmooth
Fashion GrayClose Match
SKU: PCNT78166PPPG IndustriesCoraflon PlatinumAAMA 260520-35 glosssmooth
PewterClose Match
SKU: PCNT75163PPPG IndustriesCoraflon PlatinumAAMA 260515-30 glosssmooth
Forged PewterClose Match
SKU: PCNT75242PPPG IndustriesCoraflon PlatinumAAMA 260540-50 glosssmooth
Digital Gray TextureClose Match
SKU: PCNT25188PPPG IndustriesCoraflon PlatinumAAMA 26052-6 glosstexture
CAT Gray PrimerClose Match
SKU: PCF70271PPG IndustriesEnvirocron50-70 glosssmooth
John Deere Gray PrimerClose Match
SKU: PCF70272PPG IndustriesEnvirocron50-70 glosssmooth
Medium GrayClose Match
SKU: PCF70256PPG IndustriesEnvirocron40-50 glosssmooth
ASA 70 GrayClose Match
SKU: PCT70158PPG IndustriesEnvirocron55-65 glosssmooth
Gray UDClose Match
SKU: PCT79133PPG IndustriesEnvirocron90+ glosssmooth
JLG Gray UDClose Match
SKU: PCTZ79119PPG IndustriesEnvirocron90+ glosssmooth
Gray Texture T1-7045Close Match
SKU: PCTA70469PPG IndustriesEnvirocron6-8 glosstexture
49 GrayClose Match
SKU: PAS6-80R01Sherwin-WilliamsPowdura ECO50-65 glosssmooth
Hero GrayClose Match
SKU: EAT1-C0001Sherwin-WilliamsPowdura0-15 glosssmooth
Frame GrayClose Match
SKU: PAS4-C0045Sherwin-WilliamsPowdura31-60 glosssmooth
49 GrayClose Match
SKU: PAS6-C0001Sherwin-WilliamsPowdura40-60 glosssmooth
Recreational GrayClose Match
SKU: DAS5-C0001Sherwin-WilliamsPowdura40-60 glosssmooth
Lowes Grey 300 IIClose Match
SKU: 6550-71817TCI Powder CoatingsTCI50-59 glosssmooth
Walmart Grey IIClose Match
SKU: 6530-73179TCI Powder CoatingsTCI30-39 glosssmooth
ANSI 61 Utility GreyClose Match
SKU: 9720-71130-1TCI Powder CoatingsTCI70-79 glosssmooth
Elec. Insulative GreyClose Match
SKU: 7830-72015TCI Powder CoatingsTCI10-19 glosssmooth
61 GreyClose Match
SKU: 8300-7087TCI Powder CoatingsTCI30-39 glosssmooth
Grey SpeckleClose Match
SKU: 8006-9982MTCI Powder CoatingsTCI0-9 glossmulti-color speckle
Elec. Grey/ASA 70Close Match
SKU: 9810-7042TCI Powder CoatingsTCI80-89 glosssmooth
Win GreyClose Match
SKU: 9900-7111TCI Powder CoatingsTCI90+ glosssmooth
(Silver) GreyClose Match
SKU: 038/70049Tiger Drylac USATiger DrylacAAMA 260425-35 glosssmooth

About These Recommendations

These are powder formulations that correspond to this RAL color based on manufacturer data sheets. Exact powders are coded to this specific RAL code. Close powders are visually similar alternatives we have used before. We do not sell powder directly — we use these formulations to coat your parts. Call us to discuss your project and we will confirm the best option for your timeline.

Call to Discuss Your ProjectWe will confirm the best powder and finish for your parts and timeline.