RAL 8017 - Chocolate Brown
RAL 8017 (Chocolate Brown) is a RAL Classic color with a HEX approximation of #45322E, RGB 69, 50, 46, and CMYK 0/28/33/73. It is a brown tone typically used in earth-toned industrial finishes, exterior cladding, machinery, and architectural brownfields. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is 439 C (Delta E 3.20), and its closest RAL neighbor is RAL 8028 (Terra Brown).
About RAL 8017
RAL 8017 Chocolate Brown is the classic "postal brown" of European industrial equipment - it appears on traditional railway carriages, agricultural machinery, and heritage infrastructure where a warm, traditional brown is wanted. RAL browns are earthy, mature tones used where a refined or natural aesthetic is wanted on industrial or architectural surfaces. The range runs from warm clay (8003) to deep sepia (8014).
RAL codes are administered by RAL gGmbH, a German quality-assurance institute. The RAL Classic library - 213 codes across nine hue families - is the standard for paint, powder-coat, and plastic finishes across Europe, and is used internationally wherever industrial color specification is required. Like every RAL code, RAL 8017 is defined by a physical paint swatch rather than a digital value; the HEX approximation #45322E is the most commonly-published reference, but physical paint chips are the only authoritative source.
Closest Pantone match
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to RAL 8017 is 439 C (#453536), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 3.20. This is a reasonable match but you should verify against physical Pantone chips before production.
Closest RAL Classic neighbors
These RAL codes are perceptually closest to RAL 8017, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family differ by Delta E 2-8 typically - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where RAL 8017 is used
RAL 8017 is typically specified in earth-toned industrial finishes, exterior cladding, machinery, and architectural brownfields. Its brown tone makes it appropriate wherever a refined, specialty, or decorative palette is wanted. Before specifying RAL 8017 for a production run, verify the color against a physical RAL swatch under the actual lighting conditions and finish (matte, semi-gloss, gloss) that will be used - the same code looks meaningfully different across substrates.
Frequently asked questions
What is RAL 8017 in HEX?
RAL 8017 (Chocolate Brown) has a HEX approximation of #45322E. This is the widely-published mid-range value - RAL is a physical paint standard, and different reference sources vary by 2-5% for the same code. #45322E is close to every commonly-published reference for RAL 8017.
What is RAL 8017 in RGB?
RAL 8017 converts to RGB 69, 50, 46. Its CMYK print approximation is 0/28/33/73. These values are approximations for design reference - always verify against a physical RAL swatch before production, because paint and ink reflect light very differently.
What Pantone color is closest to RAL 8017?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated match to RAL 8017 is 439 C (#453536), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 3.20. This is a reasonable match but you should verify against physical Pantone chips before production.
What RAL color is closest to RAL 8017?
The closest RAL Classic neighbors to RAL 8017 are RAL 8028 (Terra Brown, Delta E 4.4), RAL 8016 (Mahogany Brown, Delta E 4.5), RAL 8019 (Grey Brown, Delta E 7.0). RAL codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - close enough to feel like siblings, distinct enough to be visibly different on a physical swatch.
Where is RAL 8017 commonly used?
RAL 8017 is typically used in earth-toned industrial finishes, exterior cladding, machinery, and architectural brownfields. Its brown tone makes it suitable for contexts where this specific hue family carries the intended brand or safety meaning. Verify with a physical swatch under the actual lighting and finish conditions before specifying for a production run.