Shop guide
Cerakote color combos that sell, straight from real shop schedules
Ask ten shops for their most-ordered schemes and you'll hear the same handful of combinations. These are the combos that keep showing up on booking calendars — and the quickest way to sell one is to show it on the customer's own part next to the solid-color version.
FDE over black — the eternal bestseller
Magpul FDE (H-267) or Flat Dark Earth (H-265) on the body with Graphite Black (H-146) controls is the combination that built a thousand shops. It's warm, it hides wear, and it looks intentional on everything from pistols to rifle sets. The reverse — black body, FDE accents — reads more subtle and sells almost as well.
Burnt bronze everything
Burnt Bronze (H-148) is arguably the most photographed Cerakote color on the internet. Full builds are striking; bronze-over-black two-tones are the safer sell. Pair it with Armor Black (H-190) for maximum contrast or Midnight Bronze (H-294) for a tone-on-tone premium look.
Urban greys
Sniper Grey (H-343) with black, Tungsten (H-237) with Titanium (H-214), Stormtrooper builds in Bright White (H-140) with black controls — grey schemes are the fastest-growing family, and they photograph beautifully for your portfolio. Stone Grey (H-234) plus a splash of color (crimson or NRA Blue) is the custom-shop signature move.
OD green and the hunting builds
O.D. Green (H-236) or Mil Spec Green (H-264) over black is the hunting classic, and the base of most woodland and multicam pattern jobs. For a modern twist, Noveske Bazooka Green (H-189) with FDE accents splits the difference between tactical and custom.
Show, don't describe
Every combo above sells better as a picture. Upload the customer's part photo, apply the combo to the real sections, and send both the solid and two-tone versions with prices — customers routinely pick the two-tone once they can see it.