What color is #B9BDBA?

#B9BDBA is a light gray, closest to the named color Metal. It belongs to the gray family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #B9BDBA?

The RGB value is 185, 189, 186: 185 red, 189 green and 186 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #B9BDBA?

The complementary color is #BDB9BC, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #B9BDBA?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 11.05:1 and white text 1.9:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#B9BDBA color

#B9BDBA rgb(185, 189, 186)

Shades of gray

The hex color #B9BDBA is a light gray.

In the RGB color model it is made of 72.5% red, 74.1% green and 72.9% blue (185, 189, 186).

Its hue angle is 135°, with 3% saturation and 73% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 2% cyan, 0% magenta, 2% yellow and 26% black.

The closest named color is Metal (#BABFBC), a difference of 0.7 ΔE, which is barely visible.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 11.05:1).

#B9BDBA color codes

HEX	`#B9BDBA`
RGB	`rgb(185, 189, 186)`
RGB percent	`rgb(72.5%, 74.1%, 72.9%)`
HSL	`hsl(135, 3%, 73%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(135, 2%, 74%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(2%, 0%, 2%, 26%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(76.23, -1.95, 1.03)`
CIE LCH	`lch(76.23, 2.2, 152.21)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(47.067, 50.255, 53.665)`
Decimal	`12172730`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #B9BDBA, 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 #B9BDBA	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	11.05:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.9:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

#B9BDBA as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.9:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	11.05:1	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 #B9BDBA looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #b9bdba; }
.text { color: #b9bdba; }
.border { border: 2px solid #b9bdba; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(185 189 186 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #b9bdba, #b9bdbc); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Silver.

Questions

What color is #B9BDBA?: #B9BDBA is a light gray, closest to the named color Metal. It belongs to the gray family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #B9BDBA?: The RGB value is 185, 189, 186: 185 red, 189 green and 186 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #B9BDBA?: The complementary color is #BDB9BC, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #B9BDBA?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 11.05:1 and white text 1.9:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.