What color is #B3B3AB?

#B3B3AB is a gray, closest to the named color Steam Engine. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #B3B3AB?

The RGB value is 179, 179, 171: 179 red, 179 green and 171 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #B3B3AB?

The complementary color is #ABABB3, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #B3B3AB?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 9.95:1 and white text 2.11:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#B3B3AB color

#B3B3AB rgb(179, 179, 171)

Shades of gray

The hex color #B3B3AB is a gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 70.2% red, 70.2% green and 67.1% blue (179, 179, 171).

Its hue angle is 60°, with 5% saturation and 69% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 4% yellow and 30% black.

The closest named color is Steam Engine (#B2B2AD), a difference of 1.5 ΔE, which is barely visible.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 9.95:1).

#B3B3AB color codes

HEX	`#B3B3AB`
RGB	`rgb(179, 179, 171)`
RGB percent	`rgb(70.2%, 70.2%, 67.1%)`
HSL	`hsl(60, 5%, 69%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(60, 4%, 70%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(0%, 0%, 4%, 30%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(72.74, -1.46, 4.08)`
CIE LCH	`lch(72.74, 4.33, 109.75)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(42.06, 44.764, 44.945)`
Decimal	`11776939`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #B3B3AB, 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 #B3B3AB	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	9.95:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.11:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

#B3B3AB as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.11:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	9.95:1	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 #B3B3AB looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #b3b3ab; }
.text { color: #b3b3ab; }
.border { border: 2px solid #b3b3ab; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(179 179 171 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #b3b3ab, #afb3ab); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Greige.

Questions

What color is #B3B3AB?: #B3B3AB is a gray, closest to the named color Steam Engine. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #B3B3AB?: The RGB value is 179, 179, 171: 179 red, 179 green and 171 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #B3B3AB?: The complementary color is #ABABB3, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #B3B3AB?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 9.95:1 and white text 2.11:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.