Gray color · XKCD survey name
Gunmetal Color Code: #536267
Gunmetal is a medium-dark gray with a faint azure tint color with the hexadecimal value #536267. In RGB it is 83, 98, 103 and in HSL it is 195°, 11%, 36%. White text reads comfortably on it (6.34:1 contrast).
Gunmetal color values
#536267
rgb(83, 98, 103)
hsl(195, 11%, 36%)
195, 19%, 40%
hwb(195 33% 60%)
19%, 5%, 0%, 60%
5464679
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Gunmetal?
“Gunmetal” is a crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey, in which participants typed names for colors they were shown. It is a popular everyday label rather than an official standard.
Its saturation is only 11%, so it behaves as a neutral, with 11% saturation (muted) and 36% lightness (medium-dark). It is a cool color.
Compared with the other gray colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 17% of them and more saturated than 54% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.116, which makes it a 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.
Gunmetal counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 36% and its relative luminance is 0.116. White text reads comfortably on it (6.34:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Gunmetal
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 6.34:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 3.31:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | 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 Gunmetal
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 Gunmetal
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 Gunmetal
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.34:1 contrast)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Tables, cards and dashboards
- Body text, borders and dividers
- Secondary buttons and disabled states
Use Gunmetal in CSS
:root {
--color-gunmetal: #536267;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-gunmetal);
background-color: #536267;
border: 2px solid #536267;
}Questions about Gunmetal
What is the HEX code for Gunmetal?
Gunmetal is #536267.
What is the RGB value of Gunmetal?
The RGB value of Gunmetal is 83, 98, 103: 83 red, 98 green and 103 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(83, 98, 103) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Gunmetal?
The HSL value of Gunmetal is 195°, 11%, 36% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(195, 11%, 36%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Gunmetal?
A standard conversion gives about C 19%, M 5%, Y 0%, K 60%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Gunmetal a light or dark color?
Gunmetal counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 36% and its relative luminance is 0.116. White text reads comfortably on it (6.34:1 contrast).
How does Gunmetal look with white text?
White text on Gunmetal has a contrast ratio of 6.34:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Gunmetal look with black text?
Black text on Gunmetal has a contrast ratio of 3.31:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Gunmetal?
Dim Gray is its complementary color, and Dim Gray sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Gunmetal be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.34:1 contrast); calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements; large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough.
How do I use Gunmetal in CSS?
Use color: #536267; for text, background-color: #536267; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-gunmetal: #536267; and reuse it with var(--color-gunmetal).
About this color page
Crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey (CC0). 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.