Dark Gray #A9A9A9
Dark Gray color codes
Dark Gray color meaning
Dark Gray is a calm, natural and understated gray — a neutral color at 66% lightness and 0% saturation. Like other neutrals, it is linked with neutrality, sophistication and balance. Grays and blacks are the quiet backbone of most designs, adding structure and elegance without competing for attention.
Because it is calm, natural and understated, dark gray works best for interiors, neutral palettes, fashion basics and photography backdrops. As text on white it would be too faint (2.4:1), so use it for fills and backgrounds and put black text on top (8.9:1).
What colors go with Dark Gray?
Dark Gray pairs well with Dusty Rose, Rosy Brown, Light Coral and Charcoal: Dusty Rose sits close to its opposite on the color wheel for strong contrast, Rosy Brown and Light Coral are neighbors that keep a scheme calm, and Charcoal gives the eye somewhere to rest.
Build a full scheme around dark gray in the color matcher, blend it with another color in the color mixer, or copy ready-made HTML and CSS from the HTML color picker.
Dark Gray at a glance
| Color family | Gray & Black · neutral, calm, natural and understated |
|---|---|
| CSS color name | Yes — darkgray works in CSS |
| As text on white | 2.35:1 — not readable as text |
| Best text on it | Black (8.94:1) |
| For print (CMYK) | 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 0% yellow, 34% black |
| Full screen | Open the dark gray screen — fill your display or download it in 4K |
Contrast
Contrast ratio of Dark Gray against white and black text (WCAG 2.1 needs 4.5:1 for body text).
Shades, tints & tones
Color harmonies
Colors similar to Dark Gray
Dark Gray color FAQ
What is the hex code for Dark Gray?
Dark Gray is #A9A9A9, which is rgb(169, 169, 169) and hsl(0, 0%, 66%). For print it is roughly C0 M0 Y0 K34.
What colors go with Dark Gray?
Dark Gray pairs well with Dusty Rose, Rosy Brown, Light Coral, Charcoal. Dusty Rose gives the strongest contrast, being close to its complementary color. Neutrals such as Charcoal also work well alongside it.
Is Dark Gray a warm or cool color?
Dark Gray is close to neutral — it has very little saturation (0%), so it sits comfortably next to both warm and cool colors.
What text color looks best on Dark Gray?
Black text, with a contrast ratio of 8.9:1, which meets WCAG AA for normal text.