Light Gray #D3D3D3
Light Gray color codes
Light Gray color meaning
Light Gray is a soft and airy gray — a neutral color at 83% 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 soft and airy, light gray works best for backgrounds, walls, baby rooms, wedding stationery and large calm surfaces. As text on white it would be too faint (1.5:1), so use it for fills and backgrounds and put black text on top (14.0:1).
What colors go with Light Gray?
Light Gray pairs well with Rosy Brown, Dusty Rose, Dark Salmon and Charcoal: Rosy Brown sits close to its opposite on the color wheel for strong contrast, Dusty Rose and Dark Salmon are neighbors that keep a scheme calm, and Charcoal gives the eye somewhere to rest.
Build a full scheme around light 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.
Light Gray at a glance
| Color family | Gray & Black · neutral, soft and airy |
|---|---|
| CSS color name | Yes — lightgray works in CSS |
| As text on white | 1.50:1 — not readable as text |
| Best text on it | Black (14.03:1) |
| For print (CMYK) | 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 0% yellow, 17% black |
| Full screen | Open the light gray screen — fill your display or download it in 4K |
Contrast
Contrast ratio of Light Gray against white and black text (WCAG 2.1 needs 4.5:1 for body text).
Shades, tints & tones
Color harmonies
Colors similar to Light Gray
Light Gray color FAQ
What is the hex code for Light Gray?
Light Gray is #D3D3D3, which is rgb(211, 211, 211) and hsl(0, 0%, 83%). For print it is roughly C0 M0 Y0 K17.
What colors go with Light Gray?
Light Gray pairs well with Rosy Brown, Dusty Rose, Dark Salmon, Charcoal. Rosy Brown gives the strongest contrast, being close to its complementary color. Neutrals such as Charcoal also work well alongside it.
Is Light Gray a warm or cool color?
Light 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 Light Gray?
Black text, with a contrast ratio of 14.0:1, which meets WCAG AA for normal text.