Traditional
Medium Gray
Medium Gray
#9E9E9EClick to copy
Medium Gray Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →HEX#9E9E9ECopy
RGBrgb(158, 158, 158)Copy
HSLhsl(0, 0%, 62%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(0, 0%, 62%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 38%)Copy
Medium Gray Color Schemes
Complementary
#9E9E9E
Click to copy#9E9E9E
Click to copyAnalogous
#9E9E9E
Click to copy#9E9E9E
Click to copySplit Complementary
#9E9E9E
Click to copy#9E9E9E
Click to copyMonochromatic
#9E9E9E
Click to copy#D1D1D1
Click to copy#FFFFFF
Click to copy#6B6B6B
Click to copy#383838
Click to copy#050505
Click to copyMedium 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
2.68 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
7.84 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
2.46 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
4.72 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Medium 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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Medium Gray Color Introduction
Definition
Medium Gray (HEX #9E9E9E) has the RGB value rgb(158, 158, 158), the HSL value hsl(0°, 0%, 62%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 38%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Medium Gray is #9E9E9E, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #9E9E9E and #9E9E9E that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#9E9E9E, #9E9E9E) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Medium Gray uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Medium Gray has a contrast ratio of 2.68:1 against white and 7.84:1 against black; paired with a black background it reaches AAA, making it ideal for text and accent colors in dark mode.
Color Characteristics
Gray offers an exceptionally rich range of lightness levels, from silver to charcoal, each with its own character; it is a core color in modern minimalist design and industrial style. Specifically, Medium Gray has a lightness of 62% and a saturation of 0%, striking and generous as a background or primary color, offering good readability with either light or dark text; 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: A medium-depth gray, composed and neutral, commonly used in folk clothing, ceramics, and architecture for its versatility.
Color Psychology
Psychologically, gray stands for balance and restraint. Used well it creates a refined, calm atmosphere, but in large areas it can also feel dull and needs lightness variation to keep it lively. For this reason Medium Gray tends to leave a first impression of being calm and restrained in the viewer’s mind, and this emotional tone also defines the role it plays in design.
Best Uses
Gray is commonly used for secondary text, dividers, disabled states and card backgrounds — an indispensable structural color for building interface hierarchy. In real projects, Medium Gray is also often used as a light background or supporting negative space; in “Gray”-themed designs, the adjacent colors or lightness gradients built around it quickly establish a cohesive, clearly layered color scheme.
Medium 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.
