#383E42 Hex Color
Reliable dusty blue with professional weight
#383e42 is a dusty, near-grey blue with heavy, muted undertones. It projects a serious, reliable mood, making it a stable choice for professional web design and dark mode interfaces. Because of its excellent 10.8:1 contrast ratio against white text, this hex code works perfectly as a primary background color. Pair it with soft cream accents to prevent the overall design from feeling too cold or sterile.
Questions about #383e42
What is #383e42 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #383e42 is rgb(56, 62, 66), in HSL hsl(204, 8%, 24%) and in CMYK 15%, 6%, 0%, 74%.
What colors pair well with #383e42?
Soft, warm neutrals like cream or off-white pair beautifully with #383e42 to prevent it from feeling too sterile or cold. These lighter accents create a balanced visual hierarchy, making your text stand out clearly against the muted background.
Is #383e42 suitable for text-heavy interfaces?
Yes, this color works exceptionally well for background interfaces because it maintains a high 10.8:1 contrast ratio against white or light-colored text. This readability makes it a reliable choice for long-form reading environments or professional software dashboards.
Is #383e42 readable on white or black?
#383e42 has a 10.84:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.93:1 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.