RAL 9010 vs 9016: which white should you choose?

Two similar whites, two distinct references

RAL identifies 9010 Pure white and 9016 Traffic white separately. The visual comparison is a practical description also used by RAL-Shop’s guide to whites, not a measurement of your particular paint. “Pure white” is the reference name, not a guarantee that it is the brightest white in every setting.

Walls, doors and window frames: start with what remains

Replacing only one part? Look for the existing reference on the invoice, product sheet or label. Take that information and a representative sample to the supplier. A phone photograph can help explain the project, but it cannot confirm a colour match.

Choosing all the whites in a room? Compare both references beside the flooring, furniture and surfaces that will remain. Decide whether you want the whites to look closely related or deliberately different. There is no single reference that every wall, ceiling or door must use.

Working with several suppliers? Ask each one what they can supply in the chosen material and finish. A colour number alone does not describe gloss, texture or the coating product. A wall-paint sample therefore cannot validate the appearance of a window profile or a coated metal door.

Make a short record for each item: what stays, what changes and which sample was approved. This turns a vague request for “the same white” into information that different trades can check.

Compare the whites in four steps

1. Label both samples. Keep the code, manufacturer, product and finish with each one.
2. Place them where the colour will be used. Put them beside the neighbouring surface and in the intended orientation, rather than judging them only flat on a desk.
3. Look in your usual lighting. Compare during daylight and again with the lights used in the evening. Note which combination you prefer in each situation.
4. Approve a representative trial. Ask for the application conditions for paint, or a sample of the actual factory finish for a frame. Keep the approved sample for the delivery check.

Give your supplier a clear specification

Copy this checklist or download the text version to complete:

Item and location: …
Requested reference: RAL … — colour name …
Manufacturer and product: …
Surface or substrate: …
Finish and texture: …
Approved sample and approval date: …
Adjacent items to match: …

Please confirm that this combination is available and tell me what additional information you need to reproduce it.

The reference identifies the colour, not a paint brand or a complete product specification. If a supplier proposes an alternative, compare a new sample before treating it as interchangeable. Keep the final reference and finish on the order as well as in your notes.

Explore other references in our online RAL chart, or use the white colour guide for ideas about combinations. The chart’s digital previews are not a substitute for the sample you approve.