Traditional
Charcoal Black
Charcoal Black
#111111Click to copy
Charcoal Black Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →HEX#111111Copy
RGBrgb(17, 17, 17)Copy
HSLhsl(0, 0%, 7%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(0, 0%, 7%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 93%)Copy
Charcoal Black Color Schemes
Complementary
#111111
Click to copy#111111
Click to copyAnalogous
#111111
Click to copy#111111
Click to copySplit Complementary
#111111
Click to copy#111111
Click to copyMonochromatic
#111111
Click to copy#444444
Click to copy#777777
Click to copy#000000
Click to copy#000000
Click to copy#000000
Click to copyCharcoal Black WCAG Accessibility Contrast
WCAG Calculator →The contrast ratio of this color against common foreground/background colors (based on the WCAG 2.1 standard)
Sample text Aa
White background #FFFFFF
18.88 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
1.11 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
17.32 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
1.49 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Charcoal Black Shade Variants
Gradient Generator →Lighten with White Mixed with white for a lighter, softer color
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Darken with Black Mixed with black for a deeper, heavier color
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Muted / Morandi Mixed with gray and desaturated for a sophisticated muted tone
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Charcoal Black Color Introduction
Definition
Charcoal Black (HEX #111111) has the RGB value rgb(17, 17, 17), the HSL value hsl(0°, 0%, 7%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 93%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Charcoal Black is #111111, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #111111 and #111111 that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#111111, #111111) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Charcoal Black uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Charcoal Black has a contrast ratio of 18.88:1 against white and 1.11:1 against black; paired with a white background it reaches AAA, making body text highly readable.
Color Characteristics
Pairings of black and white carry no interference from any color tendency, letting the content itself take center stage — which is why they are regarded as classics in premium branding and minimalist design. Specifically, Charcoal Black has a lightness of 7% and a saturation of 0%, on a page it works well as a dark background or heading text color, creating a strong sense of visual weight; moreover, it contains almost no chromatic content, giving it a restrained, understated character that makes it ideal for creating a premium feel and a sense of space. In a word: The black of charcoal, deep and rich; often used in traditional calligraphy and painting ink, lacquerware, and garment trim, expressing solemnity.
Color Psychology
Psychologically, black-and-white palettes represent the ultimate and an attitude; they strip away emotional noise and express sophistication and modernity in the purest way. For this reason Charcoal Black tends to leave a first impression of being pure and powerful in the viewer’s mind, and this emotional tone also defines the role it plays in design.
Best Uses
Black-and-white palettes are commonly used for large headlines, logos and generous negative-space layouts; a monochrome base with a single bright accent immediately creates a strong modern feel. In real projects, Charcoal Black is also often used as a dark background or heading text color; in “Black & White”-themed designs, the adjacent colors or lightness gradients built around it quickly establish a cohesive, clearly layered color scheme.
Charcoal Black Featured In
This color is included in the following color cards and color families. Click a card to browse more colors in the corresponding collection.
