Art
Cool Gray
Cool Gray
#A9AEB3Click to copy
Cool Gray Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →HEX#A9AEB3Copy
RGBrgb(169, 174, 179)Copy
HSLhsl(210, 6%, 68%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(210, 6%, 70%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(6%, 3%, 0%, 30%)Copy
Cool Gray Color Schemes
Complementary
#A9AEB3
Click to copy#B3AEA9
Click to copyAnalogous
#A9B3B3
Click to copy#A9A9B3
Click to copySplit Complementary
#B3A9A9
Click to copy#B3B3A9
Click to copyMonochromatic
#A9AEB3
Click to copy#E1E1E1
Click to copy#FFFFFF
Click to copy#737B83
Click to copy#44484C
Click to copy#141516
Click to copyCool 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
2.24 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
9.39 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
2.05 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
5.65 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Cool 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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Cool Gray Color Introduction
Definition
Cool Gray (HEX #A9AEB3) has the RGB value rgb(169, 174, 179), the HSL value hsl(210°, 6%, 68%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(6%, 3%, 0%, 30%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Cool Gray is #B3AEA9, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #A9B3B3 and #A9A9B3 that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#B3A9A9, #B3B3A9) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Cool Gray uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Cool Gray has a contrast ratio of 2.24:1 against white and 9.39:1 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, Cool Gray has a lightness of 68% and a saturation of 6%, bright and airy, ideal as a light background or accent color that creates a soft, comfortable atmosphere; 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 gray with a slight cool cast, crisper than ordinary gray, suited to modern minimalist settings.
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 Cool 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, Cool 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.
Cool 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.
