What color is #51505B?

#51505B is a gray, closest to the named color Black Orchid. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #51505B?

The RGB value is 81, 80, 91: 81 red, 80 green and 91 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #51505B?

The complementary color is #5A5B50, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #51505B?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.65:1 and white text 7.93:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#51505B color

#51505B rgb(81, 80, 91)

Shades of gray

The hex color #51505B is a gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 31.8% red, 31.4% green and 35.7% blue (81, 80, 91).

Its hue angle is 245°, with 6% saturation and 34% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 11% cyan, 12% magenta, 0% yellow and 64% black.

The closest named color is Black Orchid (#525463), a difference of 2.5 ΔE, a small difference.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 7.93:1).

#51505B color codes

HEX	`#51505B`
RGB	`rgb(81, 80, 91)`
RGB percent	`rgb(31.8%, 31.4%, 35.7%)`
HSL	`hsl(245, 6%, 34%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(245, 12%, 36%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(11%, 12%, 0%, 64%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(34.48, 2.89, -6.27)`
CIE LCH	`lch(34.48, 6.9, 294.74)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(8.15, 8.242, 11.057)`
Decimal	`5328987`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #51505B, based on their position on the color wheel.

Complementary

The color opposite on the color wheel (180°). Strongest contrast.

Analogous

Neighbors 30° either side. Calm, natural combinations.

Split complementary

The two colors next to the complement (150° and 210°).

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced, 120° apart.

Tetradic (square)

Four colors 90° apart.

Shades, tints and tones

Shades (darker, mixed with black)

Tints (lighter, mixed with white)

Tones (mixed with gray)

Contrast and accessibility

Text on #51505B	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.65:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	7.93:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#51505B as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	7.93:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.65:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

WCAG 2 asks for 4.5:1 for normal text (AA), 7:1 for AAA, and 3:1 for large text. Check other pairs.

Color blindness simulation

How #51505B looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #51505b; }
.text { color: #51505b; }
.border { border: 2px solid #51505b; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(81 80 91 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #51505b, #57505b); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Charcoal.

Questions

What color is #51505B?: #51505B is a gray, closest to the named color Black Orchid. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #51505B?: The RGB value is 81, 80, 91: 81 red, 80 green and 91 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #51505B?: The complementary color is #5A5B50, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #51505B?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.65:1 and white text 7.93:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.