Railings → PPG
The closest PPG matches for Farrow & Ball Railings (No.31), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a PPG Equivalent for Railings
If you love Farrow & Ball Railings but need a PPG alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers PPG, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Railings (No.31) is a dark black with blue-black undertones. A deep, complex blue-black. Softer than a pure black with a subtle blue undertone that gives it depth and sophistication. To find a good PPG match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 5.05) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Railings and every PPG color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
Honestly, PPG does not have a perfect equivalent for Railings. The closest option is Porpoise Alt (PPG0997-7) with a Delta E of 6, but at that distance the difference will be visible. Dark Ash is close in depth but purely gray. Railings' blue makes it special. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a PPG store.
PPG Matches for Railings
Dark Ash is close in depth but purely gray. Railings' blue makes it special.
| Railings | Porpoise Alt | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 5.05 | 16 |
| Hex | #313638 | #817E7A |
| Undertone | Blue-Black | Warm Dark Ash |
| Family | Black | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Railings has blue-black undertones. A deep, complex blue-black. Softer than a pure black with a subtle blue undertone that gives it depth and sophistication.
Porpoise Alt has warm dark ash undertones. A warm, dark ash gray. Between Up In Smoke and Thunderstorm. The warm brown gives it earthy character at a dark depth.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Railings's blue-black quality may read differently than Porpoise Alt's warm dark ash character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Railings in Your Room
In bright light, the blue undertone is visible and beautiful. In dim rooms, it reads as a soft, sophisticated black. Stunning on woodwork and front doors.
Porpoise Alt in Your Room
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, a warm dark gray. In dim rooms, approaching charcoal.
LRV and Brightness
Railings has an LRV of 5.05, while Porpoise Alt has an LRV of 16. That means Porpoise Alt reflects more light. If you switch from Railings to Porpoise Alt, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Railings
Farrow & Ball recommends Railings for: front door, railings, trim, cabinets, accent wall. With an LRV of 5.05, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Porpoise Alt is recommended for: accent wall, exterior, cabinets, office, front door. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Railings in Other Brands
Looking for Railings equivalents in other brands besides PPG? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest PPG match for Railings (No.31) is Porpoise Alt (PPG0997-7) with a Delta E of 6, which rates as a "approximate" match. Dark Ash is close in depth but purely gray. Railings' blue makes it special. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Railings is a Farrow & Ball color with blue-black undertones and an LRV of 5.05. Porpoise Alt is a PPG color with warm dark ash undertones and an LRV of 16. With a Delta E of 6, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 6, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a PPG equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in PPG. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing PPG work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.