#040405 Hex Color
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This near-black shade carries a somber, sooty weight that reads as more grounded than pure white-screen black. Because #040405 is so dark, it provides excellent contrast for white typography, hitting a 20.5:1 ratio. It works best as a primary background for luxury editorial layouts. Pair this neutral tone with muted metallics to keep the design feeling authoritative without losing legibility.
Questions about #040405
What is #040405 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #040405 is rgb(4, 4, 5), in HSL hsl(240, 11%, 2%) and in CMYK 20%, 20%, 0%, 98%.
Does #040405 work well for website backgrounds?
#040405 functions as a superior alternative to pure black because it feels less jarring against white text. It provides a grounded, sophisticated backdrop that maintains high readability while offering a softer, more authoritative editorial aesthetic than typical screen blacks.
Which color combinations complement #040405?
Pair #040405 with muted metallics to maintain a luxury feel without overwhelming the design. It also creates a stunning, high-contrast look when combined with clean white or soft cream accents, which highlights its deep, sooty undertones perfectly.
Is #040405 readable on white or black?
#040405 has a 20.49:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.02:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.