What color is #838990?

#838990 is a gray, closest to the named color Nuts and Bolts. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #838990?

The RGB value is 131, 137, 144: 131 red, 137 green and 144 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #838990?

The complementary color is #908A83, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #838990?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 5.95:1 and white text 3.53:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#838990 color

#838990 rgb(131, 137, 144)

Shades of gray

The hex color #838990 is a gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 51.4% red, 53.7% green and 56.5% blue (131, 137, 144).

Its hue angle is 212°, with 6% saturation and 54% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 9% cyan, 5% magenta, 0% yellow and 44% black.

The closest named color is Nuts and Bolts (#898C92), a difference of 1.9 ΔE, which is barely visible.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 5.95:1).

#838990 color codes

HEX	`#838990`
RGB	`rgb(131, 137, 144)`
RGB percent	`rgb(51.4%, 53.7%, 56.5%)`
HSL	`hsl(212, 6%, 54%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(212, 9%, 56%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(9%, 5%, 0%, 44%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(56.81, -0.74, -4.49)`
CIE LCH	`lch(56.81, 4.56, 260.62)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(23.339, 24.73, 29.924)`
Decimal	`8620432`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #838990, 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 #838990	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	5.95:1	Pass	Fail	Pass
Sample text	3.53:1	Fail	Fail	Pass

#838990 as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	3.53:1	Fail	Fail	Pass
Sample text	5.95:1	Pass	Fail	Pass

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 #838990 looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #838990; }
.text { color: #838990; }
.border { border: 2px solid #838990; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(131 137 144 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #838990, #848390); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Pewter.

Questions

What color is #838990?: #838990 is a gray, closest to the named color Nuts and Bolts. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #838990?: The RGB value is 131, 137, 144: 131 red, 137 green and 144 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #838990?: The complementary color is #908A83, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #838990?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 5.95:1 and white text 3.53:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.