Black and Gray

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #000000;
  --color-b: #808080;
  --color-a-rgb: 0, 0, 0;
  --color-b-rgb: 128, 128, 128;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "Black and Gray",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Black",
      "hex": "#000000",
      "rgb": [
        0,
        0,
        0
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Gray",
      "hex": "#808080",
      "rgb": [
        128,
        128,
        128
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Neutral",
  "contrastRatio": 5.32
}

Do black and gray go together?

Yes. Black and Gray form a neutral color combination. Both colors are achromatic, so this pairing works through lightness contrast alone. The combination reads as a tonal or monochromatic scheme — clean, restrained, and useful for backgrounds and typography. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 5.32:1, which passes AA for large text and UI components.

What is the contrast ratio between black and gray?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Black (#000000) and Gray (#808080) is 5.32:1. This passes AA for normal text and AAA for large text.

How do I use black and gray in design?

A safe starting point is the 60/30/10 rule: give one color about 60 percent of the surface area, the other about 30 percent, and reserve the remaining 10 percent for an accent or neutral. If one color is significantly darker, use it for text or structural elements and the lighter one for backgrounds. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.

What are the hex and RGB values for black and gray?

Black has the hex code #000000 and RGB values rgb(0, 0, 0). Gray has the hex code #808080 and RGB values rgb(128, 128, 128). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.