Gray color · CSS named color
Slate Gray Color Code: #708090
Slate Gray (#708090) is a medium gray with a faint azure tint shade: RGB 112, 128, 144, HSL 210°, 13%, 50%. Black text reads best on it (5.17:1 contrast).
Also spelled “Slate Grey”.
Slate Gray color values
#708090
rgb(112, 128, 144)
hsl(210, 13%, 50%)
210, 22%, 56%
hwb(210 44% 44%)
22%, 11%, 0%, 44%
7372944
slategray
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Slate Gray?
Slate Gray is one of the named colors defined by the CSS Color specifications (keyword “slategray”), so every modern browser understands it without a hex code.
Its saturation is only 13%, so it behaves as a neutral, with 13% saturation (muted) and 50% lightness (medium). It is a cool color.
Compared with the other gray colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 54% of them and more saturated than 71% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.209, 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.
Slate Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.209. Black text reads best on it (5.17:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Slate Gray
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 4.05:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.17:1 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 Slate 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 Slate 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 Slate Gray
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.17:1 contrast with black)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Body text, borders and dividers
- Secondary buttons and disabled states
- Neutral page backgrounds
Slate Gray appears in these curated palettes: Slate and Steel (Blue Color Palettes), Cool Grays (Neutral Color Palettes), Slate Dark UI (Dark Color Palettes), Soft Mono and Coral (Minimal Color Palettes), Cloud and Navy (Minimal Color Palettes), Status Colors (UI Color Palettes).
Use Slate Gray in CSS
:root {
--color-slate-gray: #708090;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-slate-gray);
background-color: #708090;
border: 2px solid #708090;
}Questions about Slate Gray
What is the HEX code for Slate Gray?
Slate Gray is #708090.
What is the RGB value of Slate Gray?
The RGB value of Slate Gray is 112, 128, 144: 112 red, 128 green and 144 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(112, 128, 144) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Slate Gray?
The HSL value of Slate Gray is 210°, 13%, 50% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(210, 13%, 50%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Slate Gray?
A standard conversion gives about C 22%, M 11%, Y 0%, K 44%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Slate Gray a light or dark color?
Slate Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.209. Black text reads best on it (5.17:1 contrast).
How does Slate Gray look with white text?
White text on Slate Gray has a contrast ratio of 4.05:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Slate Gray look with black text?
Black text on Slate Gray has a contrast ratio of 5.17:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Slate Gray?
Warm Gray is its complementary color, and Steel Gray sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Slate Gray be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.17:1 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 Slate Gray in CSS?
Use color: #708090; for text, background-color: #708090; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-slate-gray: #708090; and reuse it with var(--color-slate-gray).
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.