#B5B5B6 Hex Color
Sophisticated mid-tone grey for clean design
This mid-tone, dusty grey is purely neutral and avoids strong color casts. Because it offers high contrast with black text, the hex code #b5b5b6 works well for UI backgrounds and interface elements that require legibility. It performs best as a supportive base rather than a primary focus, grounding brighter palettes while maintaining a professional, restrained aesthetic.
Questions about #b5b5b6
What is #b5b5b6 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #b5b5b6 is rgb(181, 181, 182), in HSL hsl(240, 1%, 71%) and in CMYK 1%, 1%, 0%, 29%.
When should I use #b5b5b6 in interface design?
Use #b5b5b6 as a foundational background color when you need to establish hierarchy without overwhelming the user. It creates excellent contrast with dark text, making it a reliable choice for buttons, sidebars, or section dividers in professional, minimalist layouts.
Does #b5b5b6 read as a warm or cool grey?
The hex color #b5b5b6 is essentially a neutral grey, meaning it avoids strong warm or cool undertones. This makes it highly versatile, as it adapts well to both vibrant accent colors and deep, muted palettes without creating visual clashing or unexpected color casts.
Is #b5b5b6 readable on white or black?
#b5b5b6 has a 2.04:1 contrast ratio on white and 10.24:1 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.