Art
Charcoal Gray
Charcoal Gray
#2D2D2DClick to copy
Charcoal Gray Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →HEX#2D2D2DCopy
RGBrgb(45, 45, 45)Copy
HSLhsl(0, 0%, 18%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(0, 0%, 18%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 82%)Copy
Charcoal Gray Color Schemes
Complementary
#2D2D2D
Click to copy#2D2D2D
Click to copyAnalogous
#2D2D2D
Click to copy#2D2D2D
Click to copySplit Complementary
#2D2D2D
Click to copy#2D2D2D
Click to copyMonochromatic
#2D2D2D
Click to copy#606060
Click to copy#939393
Click to copy#000000
Click to copy#000000
Click to copy#000000
Click to copyCharcoal Gray 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
13.77 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
1.52 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
12.63 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
1.09 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Charcoal Gray 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 Gray Color Introduction
Definition
Charcoal Gray (HEX #2D2D2D) has the RGB value rgb(45, 45, 45), the HSL value hsl(0°, 0%, 18%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 82%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Charcoal Gray is #2D2D2D, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #2D2D2D and #2D2D2D that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#2D2D2D, #2D2D2D) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Charcoal Gray uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Charcoal Gray has a contrast ratio of 13.77:1 against white and 1.52:1 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 Gray has a lightness of 18% and a saturation of 0%, steady and powerful as a background or primary color, pairing well with light text for good readability; 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 core color of shadow areas in a composition; it uses the contrast of light and dark to set off the subject, embodying the Rembrandt lighting effect.
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 Gray 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 Gray 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 Gray 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.
