Anthracite grey is RAL 7016 — a dark, slightly blue-toned grey that is, by a very wide margin, the most-ordered aluminium window colour in the UK. It reads almost charcoal in shade and warms to a soft graphite in direct sun.
Anthracite does something black cannot: it recedes. On a red-brick Victorian terrace, jet black windows can look like holes punched in the elevation. RAL 7016 sits back, defines the opening, and lets the brick carry the elevation — which is why it works on almost every UK housing type from a 1930s semi to a new-build render box.
It is also forgiving. Rain marks, dust and pollen show far less on anthracite than on either white or gloss black, which matters a lot on a north-facing elevation you are never going to clean.
Satin (roughly 30% gloss) is the standard finish and the most common order. Matt (around 10–15% gloss) has become popular on contemporary builds — it is flatter, more architectural, and hides surface imperfection better, but it can look slightly chalky on an older brick house.
Fine-texture finishes add a very slight orange-peel grain, which is excellent at hiding handling marks and is what most commercial specifications use.
This is the single most common request we get, and for good reason. Dark frames outside, light frames inside — so the elevation is contemporary and the rooms stay bright. The frame is coated in two passes, which typically adds around 5–10% to the frame cost.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Casement window, approx. 1200 × 1200mm supplied & fitted | £700 – £1,050 |
| Tilt & turn window, approx. 1200 × 1200mm supplied & fitted | £850 – £1,250 |
| Bi-fold door, 3 panes, approx. 3m supplied & fitted | £3,800 – £6,000 |
Ranges include VAT and installation. Final price depends on size, spec, access and site condition — a survey gives you a fixed number.
RAL 7016 is anthracite grey — a very dark grey with a slight blue undertone. It is darker than 'slate' and lighter than black, and it is the most commonly specified aluminium window colour in the UK.
No. Any single RAL colour, including anthracite, is the same price on a powder-coated aluminium frame. Only dual colour costs more, because the frame is coated twice.
It has been the dominant UK window colour for over a decade, and it works on brick, render and stone equally, which is generally what stops a colour dating. It is a considerably safer long-term bet than a strong colour.
A quality polyester powder coat is UV-stable and normally guaranteed for 25 years. Dark colours on south-facing elevations weather marginally faster, but visible fading within the guarantee period is uncommon.
Black aluminium windows (RAL 9005) fitted across the UK. Matt or gloss, the Crittall look, thermally brok…
Dual colour aluminium windows — anthracite or black outside, white or light grey inside. Powder coated tw…
Every RAL colour, matt or satin, single or dual colour. Anthracite grey (RAL 7016) and black are the UK's…
Aluminium casement windows supplied and fitted UK-wide. Side and top-hung, thermally broken, A-rated, any…
Free survey, fixed price, no pressure. Or call us and we'll give you a realistic ballpark in five minutes.
