White Smoke
A gentle off-white with subtle grey warmth
White Smoke is a delicate, pale grey that functions as a softer alternative to pure white. Because of its neutrality, the hex code #f5f5f5 provides excellent readability for UI backgrounds while maintaining a clean, modern aesthetic. It works best as a primary neutral pairing with deep charcoals or navy blues, preventing high-contrast designs from feeling too clinical or stark on screen.
About White Smoke
Ash on linen, gone before you touch it
What does white smoke mean?
White smoke often stands for beginnings, cleansing, and quiet newness. Its near-total lack of color and high lightness read as hushed and weightless.
Where you see white smoke
- fresh printer paper under dim light
- unbleached cotton sheets
- a chalkboard erased minutes ago
- morning fog over a lake
- white ash in a cold fire pit
- gesso on a primed canvas
What it works for
Use it as a page background or card surface when pure white feels too harsh.
What colors go with white smoke?
Charcoal #36454fThe deep dark makes the pale grey read even lighter and cleaner.Terracotta #e2725bThe warm baked orange keeps this colorless grey from feeling sterile.Slate Blue #6a5acdCool grey tones blend so the shift between them stays almost invisible.Dusty Rose #b56f76The faded pink adds warmth while both stay pale and muted.Forest Green #154406The saturated dark green gives the pale ground a strong anchor.
Questions about White Smoke
What is the hex code for White Smoke?
White Smoke is #f5f5f5. In RGB that is rgb(245, 245, 245), in HSL hsl(0, 0%, 96%) and in CMYK 0%, 0%, 0%, 4%.
Does White Smoke #f5f5f5 appear warm or cool?
White Smoke #f5f5f5 is technically a neutral, but it often leans slightly cool because it sits so close to pure white. It lacks the yellow or cream undertones that would otherwise make a light shade feel warm or organic.
Is White Smoke readable on white or black?
White Smoke has a 1.09:1 contrast ratio on white and 19.26:1 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.