#C9C5BD Hex Color
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#c9c5bd is a faded, pale neutral that leans heavily toward ash with a subtle yellow undertone. It provides an airy, minimalist base that feels less sterile than pure white. Because black text offers high contrast against this light shade, it works well for UI backgrounds and large text areas. Pair it with soft charcoal or deep slate to ground its delicate, fragile nature.
Questions about #c9c5bd
What is #c9c5bd in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #c9c5bd is rgb(201, 197, 189), in HSL hsl(40, 10%, 76%) and in CMYK 0%, 2%, 6%, 21%.
Is #c9c5bd considered a warm or cool color?
While #c9c5bd leans toward an ash gray, it carries a delicate yellow undertone that prevents it from feeling cold or sterile. This makes it an adaptable neutral that sits comfortably between true grays and soft beiges.
What colors pair best with #c9c5bd for a balanced design?
High-contrast pairings work best with this light neutral, so try grounding it with deep charcoal or slate for a sharp, readable UI. For a softer look, it also complements muted olive or earthy terracotta tones well.
Is #c9c5bd readable on white or black?
#c9c5bd has a 1.72:1 contrast ratio on white and 12.20:1 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.