Gray color · XKCD survey name
Warm Gray Color Code: #978A84
Warm Gray (#978A84) is a medium gray with a faint orange tint shade: RGB 151, 138, 132, HSL 19°, 8%, 55%. Black text reads best on it (6.28:1 contrast).
Also spelled “Warm Grey”.
Warm Gray color values
#978A84
rgb(151, 138, 132)
hsl(19, 8%, 55%)
19, 13%, 59%
hwb(19 52% 41%)
0%, 9%, 13%, 41%
9931396
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Warm Gray?
“Warm 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 8%, so it behaves as a neutral, with 8% saturation (muted) and 55% lightness (medium). It has a neutral temperature.
Compared with the other gray colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 71% of them and more saturated than 38% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.264, 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.
Warm Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 55% and its relative luminance is 0.264. Black text reads best on it (6.28:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Warm Gray
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 3.34:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 6.28:1 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 Warm 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 Warm 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 Warm Gray
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (6.28:1 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 Warm Gray in CSS
:root {
--color-warm-gray: #978A84;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-warm-gray);
background-color: #978A84;
border: 2px solid #978A84;
}Questions about Warm Gray
What is the HEX code for Warm Gray?
Warm Gray is #978A84.
What is the RGB value of Warm Gray?
The RGB value of Warm Gray is 151, 138, 132: 151 red, 138 green and 132 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(151, 138, 132) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Warm Gray?
The HSL value of Warm Gray is 19°, 8%, 55% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(19, 8%, 55%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Warm Gray?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 9%, Y 13%, K 41%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Warm Gray a light or dark color?
Warm Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 55% and its relative luminance is 0.264. Black text reads best on it (6.28:1 contrast).
How does Warm Gray look with white text?
White text on Warm Gray has a contrast ratio of 3.34:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Warm Gray look with black text?
Black text on Warm Gray has a contrast ratio of 6.28:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Warm Gray?
Steel 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 Warm Gray be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (6.28:1 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 Warm Gray in CSS?
Use color: #978A84; for text, background-color: #978A84; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-warm-gray: #978A84; and reuse it with var(--color-warm-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.