#212120 Hex Color
Online color picker to view shades, tints, color codes, and complementary colors
This near-black grey provides a serious, grounded foundation for modern dark mode interfaces. Because it is highly desaturated, #212120 functions better as a background than as a text color. Pair it with crisp white type to maintain excellent readability. The hex code for this neutral shade is #212120, and it offers a more approachable alternative to absolute black in professional design systems.
Questions about #212120
What is #212120 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #212120 is rgb(33, 33, 32), in HSL hsl(60, 2%, 13%) and in CMYK 0%, 0%, 3%, 87%.
Is #212120 a better choice than pure black for dark mode interfaces?
#212120 is often superior to pure black because it reduces eye strain and perceived vibration on digital screens. Its slight grey undertone softens the contrast against white text, creating a more professional, grounded feel in modern UI design systems.
What colors pair best with #212120?
#212120 acts as a neutral canvas that pairs best with crisp whites for text or bright, saturated accent colors like electric blue or vibrant orange. Because #212120 is so dark, avoid using other dark colors nearby to maintain necessary visual hierarchy.
Is #212120 readable on white or black?
#212120 has a 16.11:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.30:1 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.