What color is #B9BCB5?

#B9BCB5 is a light gray, closest to the named color Silky Green. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #B9BCB5?

The RGB value is 185, 188, 181: 185 red, 188 green and 181 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #B9BCB5?

The complementary color is #B8B5BC, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #B9BCB5?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 10.92:1 and white text 1.92:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#B9BCB5 color

#B9BCB5 rgb(185, 188, 181)

Shades of gray

The hex color #B9BCB5 is a light gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 72.5% red, 73.7% green and 71% blue (185, 188, 181).

Its hue angle is 86°, with 5% saturation and 72% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 2% cyan, 0% magenta, 4% yellow and 26% black.

The closest named color is Silky Green (#BDC2BB), a difference of 1.7 ΔE, which is barely visible.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 10.92:1).

#B9BCB5 color codes

HEX	`#B9BCB5`
RGB	`rgb(185, 188, 181)`
RGB percent	`rgb(72.5%, 73.7%, 71%)`
HSL	`hsl(86, 5%, 72%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(86, 4%, 74%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(2%, 0%, 4%, 26%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(75.83, -2.33, 3.17)`
CIE LCH	`lch(75.83, 3.94, 126.36)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(46.33, 49.617, 50.843)`
Decimal	`12172469`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #B9BCB5, 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 #B9BCB5	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	10.92:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.92:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

#B9BCB5 as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.92:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	10.92:1	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 #B9BCB5 looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #b9bcb5; }
.text { color: #b9bcb5; }
.border { border: 2px solid #b9bcb5; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(185 188 181 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #b9bcb5, #b6bcb5); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Ash Gray.

Questions

What color is #B9BCB5?: #B9BCB5 is a light gray, closest to the named color Silky Green. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #B9BCB5?: The RGB value is 185, 188, 181: 185 red, 188 green and 181 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #B9BCB5?: The complementary color is #B8B5BC, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #B9BCB5?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 10.92:1 and white text 1.92:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.