Gray color · XKCD survey name
Steel Gray Color Code: #6F828A
The HEX code for Steel Gray is #6F828A. It is a medium gray with a faint azure tint color made of 111 red, 130 green and 138 blue (HSL 198°, 11%, 49%). Black text reads best on it (5.23:1 contrast).
Also spelled “Steel Grey”.
Steel Gray color values
#6F828A
rgb(111, 130, 138)
hsl(198, 11%, 49%)
198, 20%, 54%
hwb(198 44% 46%)
20%, 6%, 0%, 46%
7307914
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Steel Gray?
“Steel 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 11%, so it behaves as a neutral, with 11% saturation (muted) and 49% lightness (medium). It is a cool color.
Compared with the other gray colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 42% of them and more saturated than 54% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.212, 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.
Steel Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.212. Black text reads best on it (5.23:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Steel Gray
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 4.01:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.23:1 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 Steel 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 Steel 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 Steel Gray
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.23:1 contrast with black)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Neutral page backgrounds
- Tables, cards and dashboards
- Body text, borders and dividers
Use Steel Gray in CSS
:root {
--color-steel-gray: #6F828A;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-steel-gray);
background-color: #6F828A;
border: 2px solid #6F828A;
}Questions about Steel Gray
What is the HEX code for Steel Gray?
Steel Gray is #6F828A.
What is the RGB value of Steel Gray?
The RGB value of Steel Gray is 111, 130, 138: 111 red, 130 green and 138 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(111, 130, 138) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Steel Gray?
The HSL value of Steel Gray is 198°, 11%, 49% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(198, 11%, 49%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Steel Gray?
A standard conversion gives about C 20%, M 6%, Y 0%, K 46%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Steel Gray a light or dark color?
Steel Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.212. Black text reads best on it (5.23:1 contrast).
How does Steel Gray look with white text?
White text on Steel Gray has a contrast ratio of 4.01:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Steel Gray look with black text?
Black text on Steel Gray has a contrast ratio of 5.23:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Steel Gray?
Warm Gray is its complementary color, and Medium Gray sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Steel Gray be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.23:1 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 Steel Gray in CSS?
Use color: #6F828A; for text, background-color: #6F828A; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-steel-gray: #6F828A; and reuse it with var(--color-steel-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.