#222222 Hex Color
A sophisticated near-black for modern design
#222222 is an intensely dark, near-black shade that provides a grounded, stable base for high-contrast designs. It avoids the harshness of pure black, offering a softer, more professional finish for UI backgrounds and typography. Because of its excellent 15.9:1 contrast ratio with white text, this hex code excels in dark mode applications without sacrificing readability or causing eye strain.
Questions about #222222
What is #222222 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #222222 is rgb(34, 34, 34), in HSL hsl(0, 0%, 13%) and in CMYK 0%, 0%, 0%, 87%.
Is #222222 a better choice than pure black for UI design?
#222222 is widely preferred over pure black in digital interfaces because it reduces eye strain while maintaining a high contrast ratio against white text. It provides a softer, more professional aesthetic that feels grounded without the overwhelming intensity of absolute black.
Which colors pair well with #222222 in a design system?
This near-black works best when paired with crisp white for readability or with vibrant accent colors like electric blue or emerald for visual impact. Because #222222 is neutral, it grounds bright colors and allows them to pop without competing for attention.
Is #222222 readable on white or black?
#222222 has a 15.90:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.31:1 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.