What color is #51515F?

#51515F is a gray, closest to the named color Black Orchid. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #51515F?

The RGB value is 81, 81, 95: 81 red, 81 green and 95 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #51515F?

The complementary color is #5F5F51, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #51515F?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.69:1 and white text 7.8:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#51515F color

#51515F rgb(81, 81, 95)

Shades of gray

The hex color #51515F is a gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 31.8% red, 31.8% green and 37.3% blue (81, 81, 95).

Its hue angle is 240°, with 8% saturation and 35% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 15% cyan, 15% magenta, 0% yellow and 63% black.

The closest named color is Black Orchid (#525463), a difference of 1.4 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 7.8:1).

#51515F color codes

HEX	`#51515F`
RGB	`rgb(81, 81, 95)`
RGB percent	`rgb(31.8%, 31.8%, 37.3%)`
HSL	`hsl(240, 8%, 35%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(240, 15%, 37%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(15%, 15%, 0%, 63%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(34.92, 3.22, -8.13)`
CIE LCH	`lch(34.92, 8.74, 291.64)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(8.401, 8.46, 12.015)`
Decimal	`5329247`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #51515F, 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 #51515F	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.69:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	7.8:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#51515F as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	7.8:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.69:1	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 #51515F looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #51515f; }
.text { color: #51515f; }
.border { border: 2px solid #51515f; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(81 81 95 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #51515f, #58515f); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Charcoal.

Questions

What color is #51515F?: #51515F is a gray, closest to the named color Black Orchid. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #51515F?: The RGB value is 81, 81, 95: 81 red, 81 green and 95 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #51515F?: The complementary color is #5F5F51, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #51515F?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.69:1 and white text 7.8:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.