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Gray and Orange

Tonal Accent color combination with 2.00:1 contrast ratio

#808080
#FFA500

Color Values

Gray
HEX #808080
RGB 128, 128, 128
HSL 0, 0%, 50%
Orange
HEX #FFA500
RGB 255, 165, 0
HSL 39, 100%, 50%

Harmony: Tonal Accent

One color is neutral and the other carries the chroma, which is a reliable formula for balanced design. The neutral gives the eye somewhere to rest while the chromatic color provides the focal point.

The hue angle between Gray and Orange is 39 degrees (though one or both colors are achromatic, so hue angle is less relevant than lightness contrast). You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

2.00:1
Gray background with Orange text
Below AA — decorative use only

UI Preview

Gray surface

Sample text on a gray background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Orange surface

Sample text on a orange background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #808080;
  --color-b: #FFA500;
  --color-a-rgb: 128, 128, 128;
  --color-b-rgb: 255, 165, 0;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "Gray and Orange",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Gray",
      "hex": "#808080",
      "rgb": [
        128,
        128,
        128
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Orange",
      "hex": "#FFA500",
      "rgb": [
        255,
        165,
        0
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Tonal Accent",
  "contrastRatio": 2
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do gray and orange go together?

Yes. Gray and Orange form a tonal accent color combination. One color is neutral and the other carries the chroma, which is a reliable formula for balanced design. The neutral gives the eye somewhere to rest while the chromatic color provides the focal point. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 2.00:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.

What is the contrast ratio between gray and orange?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Gray (#808080) and Orange (#FFA500) is 2.00:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.

How do I use gray and orange 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 gray and orange?

Gray has the hex code #808080 and RGB values rgb(128, 128, 128). Orange has the hex code #FFA500 and RGB values rgb(255, 165, 0). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.