Black color · CSS named color
Black Color Code: #000000
The HEX code for Black is #000000. It is a near-black shade color made of 0 red, 0 green and 0 blue (HSL 0°, 0%, 0%). White text reads comfortably on it (21.00:1 contrast).
Black color values
#000000
#000
rgb(0, 0, 0)
hsl(0, 0%, 0%)
0, 0%, 0%
hwb(0 0% 100%)
0%, 0%, 0%, 100%
0
black
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Black?
Black is one of the named colors defined by the CSS Color specifications (keyword “black”), so every modern browser understands it without a hex code.
Its saturation is only 0%, so it behaves as a neutral, with 0% saturation (nearly neutral) and 0% lightness (very dark). It has a neutral temperature.
Compared with the other black colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 0% of them and more saturated than 0% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.000, which makes it a very dark color. That is below the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so white text has the advantage. The HEX code can also be written in the shorthand form #000.
Black counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 0% and its relative luminance is 0.000. White text reads comfortably on it (21.00:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Black
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 21.00:1 Excellent | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 1.00:1 Poor | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Black
Complementary color
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They give the strongest hue contrast, which suits calls to action and accents.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors are neighbors on the wheel, 30° either side of the base hue. They blend smoothly and are easy to combine in backgrounds, gradients and illustrations.
Triadic colors
A triadic scheme uses three hues spaced 120° apart. It is lively yet balanced, and works best when one color leads and the other two act as accents.
Split-complementary colors
Split-complementary keeps the base color and uses the two colors on either side of its complement (150° and 210°). The contrast is strong but gentler than a direct complement.
Tetradic colors
A tetradic (rectangle) scheme combines two complementary pairs at 0°, 60°, 180° and 240°. It offers variety but needs one dominant color to stay balanced.
Monochromatic variants
Monochromatic variants keep the same hue and saturation and only change lightness, which makes them dependable for UI scales and subtle layered designs.
A “≈” before a name means the exact harmony color has no named match, so the link goes to the closest named color.
Tints and shades of Black
Lighter tints (mixed with white)
Darker shades (mixed with black)
Select any swatch to copy its HEX code. Build longer scales with the tints and shades tool.
Similar colors
Where to use Black
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (21.00:1 contrast)
- Dark-mode surfaces, headers and footers
- High-contrast dark themes
- Icons, logos and outlines
- Photography and editorial layouts
- Body text and headings
Black appears in these curated palettes: Red and Black (Red Color Palettes), Sand and Stone (Neutral Color Palettes), Cream and Charcoal (Neutral Color Palettes), Paper and Ink (Neutral Color Palettes), Carbon (Dark Color Palettes), Charcoal and Gold (Dark Color Palettes).
Use Black in CSS
:root {
--color-black: #000000;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-black);
background-color: #000000;
border: 2px solid #000000;
}Questions about Black
What is the HEX code for Black?
Black is #000000. The shorthand form #000 is equivalent.
What is the RGB value of Black?
The RGB value of Black is 0, 0, 0: 0 red, 0 green and 0 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(0, 0, 0) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Black?
The HSL value of Black is 0°, 0%, 0% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(0, 0%, 0%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Black?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 0%, Y 0%, K 100%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Black a light or dark color?
Black counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 0% and its relative luminance is 0.000. White text reads comfortably on it (21.00:1 contrast).
How does Black look with white text?
White text on Black has a contrast ratio of 21.00:1, rated Excellent. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Black look with black text?
Black text on Black has a contrast ratio of 1.00:1, rated Poor. It falls below the WCAG minimum for text.
What colors go well with Black?
Almost Black is its complementary color, and Almost Black sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Black be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (21.00:1 contrast); dark-mode surfaces, headers and footers; high-contrast dark themes.
How do I use Black in CSS?
Use color: #000000; for text, background-color: #000000; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-black: #000000; and reuse it with var(--color-black).
About this color page
CSS named color (W3C CSS Color Module). Values are calculated from the HEX code; color names are labels, not trademarks or standards unless stated. Screens render colors differently, so always check important colors on your own device. See the disclaimer.