What color is #51535E?

#51535E is a gray, closest to the named color Blackwater. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #51535E?

The RGB value is 81, 83, 94: 81 red, 83 green and 94 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #51535E?

The complementary color is #5E5C51, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #51535E?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.75:1 and white text 7.64:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#51535E color

#51535E rgb(81, 83, 94)

Shades of gray

The hex color #51535E is a gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 31.8% red, 32.5% green and 36.9% blue (81, 83, 94).

Its hue angle is 231°, with 7% saturation and 34% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 14% cyan, 12% magenta, 0% yellow and 63% black.

The closest named color is Blackwater (#545663), a difference of 1.5 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 7.64:1).

#51535E color codes

HEX	`#51535E`
RGB	`rgb(81, 83, 94)`
RGB percent	`rgb(31.8%, 32.5%, 36.9%)`
HSL	`hsl(231, 7%, 34%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(231, 14%, 37%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(14%, 12%, 0%, 63%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(35.49, 1.73, -6.66)`
CIE LCH	`lch(35.49, 6.88, 284.56)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(8.507, 8.744, 11.827)`
Decimal	`5329758`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #51535E, 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 #51535E	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.75:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	7.64:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#51535E as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	7.64:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.75:1	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 #51535E looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #51535e; }
.text { color: #51535e; }
.border { border: 2px solid #51535e; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(81 83 94 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #51535e, #55515e); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Charcoal.

Questions

What color is #51535E?: #51535E is a gray, closest to the named color Blackwater. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #51535E?: The RGB value is 81, 83, 94: 81 red, 83 green and 94 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #51535E?: The complementary color is #5E5C51, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #51535E?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.75:1 and white text 7.64:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.