#9FABAD Hex Color
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Pale Slate is a muted cyan with dusty blue-gray undertones and an ashy finish. Its medium-light value feels refreshing and thoughtful, making it useful for technology, aerospace, and productivity interfaces. Use it as a supporting tone with navy or warm white, since it can look washed out beside pure white. The hex code for Pale Slate is #9fabad, and black text reads clearly on it.
About Pale Slate
Fog on the water, an hour before sunrise
What does pale slate mean?
A grey blue like this commonly calls to mind overcast skies, river stone, weathered shingles, and still winter water. Its low saturation and midtone lightness keep it subdued and steady, pulling it closer to grey than to blue.
Where you see pale slate
- faded denim
- overcast ocean water
- bathroom tile
- sea glass
- concrete in shadow
- painted kitchen cabinets
What it works for
It works well as a background color, a wall paint in bedrooms and bathrooms, or a muted base for packaging.
What colors go with pale slate?
Terracotta #e2725bWarm baked clay gives this cool ash a firm, grounded counterpoint.Cream #fffdd0Warm off-white lifts the grey without erasing its muted character.Oxblood #800020The deep red reads rich against a color this desaturated and cool.Sage #9caf88Two dusty midtones sit side by side without competing for attention.Charcoal #36454fA near-black partner keeps the pairing tonal and restrained.
Questions about Pale Slate
What is the hex code for Pale Slate?
Pale Slate is #9fabad. In RGB that is rgb(159, 171, 173), in HSL hsl(189, 8%, 65%) and in CMYK 8%, 1%, 0%, 32%.
Where does Pale Slate #9fabad work well?
Pale Slate works well in productivity dashboards, technology interfaces, aerospace visuals, and calm supporting surfaces where a cool, thoughtful mood is useful. Pair it with navy for structure or warm white for softer balance, rather than relying on it as a dominant high-energy accent.
Is Pale Slate readable on white or black?
Pale Slate has a 2.35:1 contrast ratio on white and 8.90:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it is too faint for text and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.