What color is #A9A9AD?

#A9A9AD is a gray, closest to the named color Ultimate Gray. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #A9A9AD?

The RGB value is 169, 169, 173: 169 red, 169 green and 173 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #A9A9AD?

The complementary color is #ADADA9, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #A9A9AD?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 8.97:1 and white text 2.34:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#A9A9AD color

#A9A9AD rgb(169, 169, 173)

Shades of gray

The hex color #A9A9AD is a gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 66.3% red, 66.3% green and 67.8% blue (169, 169, 173).

Its hue angle is 240°, with 2% saturation and 67% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 2% cyan, 2% magenta, 0% yellow and 32% black.

The closest named color is Ultimate Gray (#A9A8A9), a difference of 1.6 ΔE, which is barely visible.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 8.97:1).

#A9A9AD color codes

HEX	`#A9A9AD`
RGB	`rgb(169, 169, 173)`
RGB percent	`rgb(66.3%, 66.3%, 67.8%)`
HSL	`hsl(240, 2%, 67%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(240, 2%, 68%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(2%, 2%, 0%, 32%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(69.35, 0.76, -2.05)`
CIE LCH	`lch(69.35, 2.19, 290.4)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(38.092, 39.828, 45.208)`
Decimal	`11119021`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #A9A9AD, 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 #A9A9AD	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	8.97:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.34:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

#A9A9AD as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.34:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	8.97:1	Pass	Pass	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 #A9A9AD looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #a9a9ad; }
.text { color: #a9a9ad; }
.border { border: 2px solid #a9a9ad; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(169 169 173 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #a9a9ad, #aba9ad); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Questions

What color is #A9A9AD?: #A9A9AD is a gray, closest to the named color Ultimate Gray. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #A9A9AD?: The RGB value is 169, 169, 173: 169 red, 169 green and 173 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #A9A9AD?: The complementary color is #ADADA9, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #A9A9AD?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 8.97:1 and white text 2.34:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.