Gray color · XKCD survey name
Medium Gray Color Code: #7D7F7C
Medium Gray is a medium gray color with the hexadecimal value #7D7F7C. In RGB it is 125, 127, 124 and in HSL it is 100°, 1%, 49%. Black text reads best on it (5.19:1 contrast).
Also spelled “Medium Grey”.
Medium Gray color values
#7D7F7C
rgb(125, 127, 124)
hsl(100, 1%, 49%)
100, 2%, 50%
hwb(100 49% 50%)
2%, 0%, 2%, 50%
8224636
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Medium Gray?
“Medium Gray” 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 1%, so it behaves as a neutral, with 1% saturation (nearly neutral) and 49% lightness (medium). It has a neutral temperature.
Compared with the other gray colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 42% of them and more saturated than 25% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.210, which makes it a mid-tone color. That is above the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so black text has the advantage.
Medium Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.210. Black text reads best on it (5.19:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Medium Gray
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 4.03:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.19:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Medium Gray
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 Medium Gray
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 Medium Gray
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.19:1 contrast with black)
- 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 Medium Gray in CSS
:root {
--color-medium-gray: #7D7F7C;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-medium-gray);
background-color: #7D7F7C;
border: 2px solid #7D7F7C;
}Questions about Medium Gray
What is the HEX code for Medium Gray?
Medium Gray is #7D7F7C.
What is the RGB value of Medium Gray?
The RGB value of Medium Gray is 125, 127, 124: 125 red, 127 green and 124 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(125, 127, 124) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Medium Gray?
The HSL value of Medium Gray is 100°, 1%, 49% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(100, 1%, 49%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Medium Gray?
A standard conversion gives about C 2%, M 0%, Y 2%, K 50%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Medium Gray a light or dark color?
Medium Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.210. Black text reads best on it (5.19:1 contrast).
How does Medium Gray look with white text?
White text on Medium Gray has a contrast ratio of 4.03:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Medium Gray look with black text?
Black text on Medium Gray has a contrast ratio of 5.19:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Medium Gray?
Gray is its complementary color, and Gray sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Medium Gray be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.19:1 contrast with black); 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 Medium Gray in CSS?
Use color: #7D7F7C; for text, background-color: #7D7F7C; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-medium-gray: #7D7F7C; and reuse it with var(--color-medium-gray).
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.