#A3A0AC Hex Color
A muted ashy purple with cool depth
#a3a0ac is an ashy, muted purple with strong grey undertones. It lacks high saturation, which makes it a sophisticated neutral for UI design rather than a flashy focal point. Because it sits comfortably against black text, it works well as a subtle background. Pair this hex code with warm, earthy browns to ground its ethereal quality and avoid a washed-out appearance.
Questions about #a3a0ac
What is #a3a0ac in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #a3a0ac is rgb(163, 160, 172), in HSL hsl(255, 7%, 65%) and in CMYK 5%, 7%, 0%, 33%.
What colors pair well with #a3a0ac?
Because #a3a0ac has such a distinct ashy and cool character, it works best when grounded by warm, earthy tones like deep terracotta or rich chocolate. These pairings prevent the purple from feeling washed out while creating a balanced, professional contrast.
Is #a3a0ac a warm or cool tone?
#a3a0ac reads as a distinctly cool, desaturated purple due to its heavy grey undertones. It lacks the vibrancy of traditional purples, which makes it a versatile neutral that recedes visually rather than popping, making it ideal for UI backgrounds.
Is #a3a0ac readable on white or black?
#a3a0ac has a 2.56:1 contrast ratio on white and 8.18:1 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.