#A5B5AC Hex Color
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Smokey Slate is a desaturated, dusty green that leans heavily into gray. Because of its muted chroma, this color acts best as a neutral background rather than a focal point. It provides excellent legibility for black text, making it a functional choice for UI elements. The hex code for Smokey Slate is #a5b5ac. Pair it with soft charcoal or warm taupe to avoid a washed-out appearance.
About Smokey Slate
Fog settled on a eucalyptus grove
What does smokey slate mean?
Smokey Slate often reads as weathered stone, dried sage, and overcast mornings, so people commonly link it with rest and stillness. Its high lightness and low saturation make it feel soft and understated, more like a faded print than a fresh leaf.
Where you see smokey slate
- sage leaves
- concrete pavers
- linen fabric
- eucalyptus branches
- river stones
- weathered cedar siding
What it works for
It works well as a wall color or background where green should be present but not demanding attention.
What colors go with smokey slate?
Terracotta #e2725bThe warm red-orange cuts through the grey-green and keeps both colors grounded.Charcoal #36454fA deep near-black sharpens this pale tint and adds clear structure.Blush #de5d83The dusty pink shares its muted quality while adding gentle warmth.Cream #fffdd0A near-white keeps the palette light and lets the green show faintly.Deep Teal #00555aDarker blue-green tones give it depth without leaving the hue family.Walnut #773f1aDark brown wood supplies contrast and a natural, lived-in feel.
Questions about Smokey Slate
What is the hex code for Smokey Slate?
Smokey Slate is #a5b5ac. In RGB that is rgb(165, 181, 172), in HSL hsl(146, 10%, 68%) and in CMYK 9%, 0%, 5%, 29%.
How should I use Smokey Slate #a5b5ac in UI design?
Smokey Slate #a5b5ac excels as a neutral background color because of its muted chroma and excellent legibility when paired with standard black text. Use it in interface designs where you need a soft, non-intrusive surface that remains readable.
Is Smokey Slate readable on white or black?
Smokey Slate has a 2.14:1 contrast ratio on white and 9.80:1 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.