Charcoal
Also known as: Wet Concrete , Green Black , Pirate Black , Phantom Ship
On screen, Charcoal registers as quiet and sophisticated: a rich gray at home in neutral backgrounds and minimal interfaces. Its complement lands in gray territory, which makes for striking two-color pairings. It's dark enough to use for text on white backgrounds (11.89:1, passes WCAG AA).
Reference
Charcoal color codes
- HEX
- #343837
- RGB
- rgb(52, 56, 55)
- RGBA
- rgba(52, 56, 55, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(165, 4%, 21%)
- HSV
- hsv(165, 7%, 22%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(7%, 0%, 2%, 78%)
- LAB
- lab(23.1 -1.9 0.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(33.6% 0.006 179.4)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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neutral, leaning cool
subtle cyan undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: darkslategray #2F4F4F · ΔE 12.0
- RAL 7021: Black grey #2E3234 · ΔE 2.8 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Charcoal works
- Web & UI: Use it directly for text on light surfaces; it clears AA contrast without adjustment.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: Works as a base layer or outerwear tone that lets brighter pieces do the talking.
- Branding: As a brand anchor it reads established and tactile; pair with a single vivid accent for energy.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Charcoal
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Charcoal by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 11.89:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 1.77:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Charcoal background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Charcoal
Charcoal with its complement
Soft neighbors of Charcoal
Charcoal triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Oil #313330 · ΔE 2.2
- Tamahagane #3B3F40 · ΔE 2.7
- Carbon #333333 · ΔE 3.0
- Black Olive #3B3C36 · ΔE 3.5
- Dead Pixel #3B3A3A · ΔE 3.6
- Vulcan #36383C · ΔE 3.9
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Charcoal is closest to Eclipse .
FAQ
Charcoal FAQs
What color is Charcoal?
Charcoal is a dark gray with the hex code #343837. In HSL terms it has a hue of 165°, 4% saturation, and 21% lightness.
What is the hex code for Charcoal?
The hex code for Charcoal is #343837. In RGB it's rgb(52, 56, 55), and in CMYK it's cmyk(7%, 0%, 2%, 78%).
What colors go well with Charcoal?
Charcoal pairs naturally with gray tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
Planning around this color? See everything that goes with Charcoal : 10 computed pairings with palettes.
Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer . Free, private, on your device.