#B9B8B8 Hex Color
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Ash grey with a barely-there warmth. #b9b8b8 is that mid-light neutral designers reach for when pure white feels cold and darker greys feel heavy. Its low saturation and 73% lightness make it a reliable supporting tone for interfaces and minimal layouts. It can look washed out next to pure white, so pair it with charcoal or deep navy for contrast. The hex code #b9b8b8 also gives a 10.6:1 contrast ratio with black text, so it clears WCAG AA behind small body copy.
Questions about #b9b8b8
What is #b9b8b8 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #b9b8b8 is rgb(185, 184, 184), in HSL hsl(0, 1%, 72%) and in CMYK 0%, 1%, 1%, 27%.
What colors pair well with #b9b8b8?
Deep tones flatter #b9b8b8 best, since it can look washed out against pure white. Try pairing it with charcoal for strong contrast, or navy for a richer, more professional feel.
What does #b9b8b8 feel like in a design?
It reads neutral, calm, and practical, with a faint warm undertone that keeps it from feeling cold. Use it as a background or supporting tone when you want restraint rather than personality.
Is #b9b8b8 readable on white or black?
#b9b8b8 has a 1.97:1 contrast ratio on white and 10.61:1 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.