You can describe the anthracite color as being a dark shade of gray. When you are considering anthracite vs. black, anthracite is very close to black but it does not quite reach a complete black color. This is because anthracite is softer and slightly lighter than black, and it does not appear as severe as black.

Anthracite is an incredibly dark shade of gray. The color is named after anthracite coal, a black rock that looks dark gray, thanks to a shiny luster. Anthracite gray is a deep shade of charcoal gray, which is widely regarded as one of the darkest grays around. Anthracite’s namesake, anthracite coal, is a black rock with a metallic sheen.