#212529 Hex Color
A sophisticated charcoal for modern interfaces
This near-black grey provides a serious, muted foundation for modern interfaces. Because it offers a 15.4:1 contrast ratio with white, it remains legible even at small body text sizes. Use hex code #212529 as a dark mode background instead of pure black to soften the UI. It pairs well with high-contrast accent colors like electric blue or muted gold to prevent the design from feeling flat.
Questions about #212529
What is #212529 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #212529 is rgb(33, 37, 41), in HSL hsl(210, 11%, 15%) and in CMYK 20%, 10%, 0%, 84%.
Is #212529 a better choice than pure black for dark mode interfaces?
Using #212529 is almost always better than pure black for UI backgrounds because it reduces eye strain and creates a more natural, layered depth. It softens the visual impact, allowing foreground elements to feel grounded rather than harsh.
What colors pair well with the deep charcoal of #212529?
This versatile charcoal anchors bright, high-contrast accents exceptionally well, making it a reliable partner for electric blue or muted gold. Because it is a neutral base, it also allows soft whites and greys to stand out without competing.
Is #212529 readable on white or black?
#212529 has a 15.42:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.36:1 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.