Nero
Also known as: Young Night, Dire Wolf, Verified Black, Lead
As a deep take on gray, Nero carries balanced and versatile energy that suits neutral backgrounds and minimal interfaces. Nero plays well with gray tones — the harmonies below show exactly which ones. It's dark enough to use for text on white backgrounds (15.33:1, passes WCAG AA).
Nero color codes
- HEX
- #252525
- RGB
- rgb(37, 37, 37)
- RGBA
- rgba(37, 37, 37, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(0, 0%, 15%)
- HSV
- hsv(0, 0%, 15%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 85%)
- LAB
- lab(14.7 0.0 0.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(26.4% 0.000 0.0)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
neutral, leaning warm
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: black#000000 · ΔE 9.0
- RAL 8022 — Black brown#211F20 · ΔE 2.5 · 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 Nero 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 — 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 — dividers, chart series, 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
Tints, shades, and tones of Nero
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Nero by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 15.33:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 1.37:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Best text color on a Nero background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Nero
Nero with its complement
Soft neighbors of Nero
Nero triad
Similar colors
- Lead#212121 · ΔE 1.3
- The End#2A2A2A · ΔE 1.6
- Umbra#211E1F · ΔE 3.1
- Caviar#2B2C30 · ΔE 3.5
- Darth Vader#27252A · ΔE 4.0
- Cinder#242A2E · ΔE 4.0
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Nero is closest to Lead.
Nero FAQs
What color is Nero?
Nero is a dark gray with the hex code #252525. In HSL terms it has a hue of 0°, 0% saturation, and 15% lightness.
What is the hex code for Nero?
The hex code for Nero is #252525. In RGB it's rgb(37, 37, 37), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 85%).
What colors go well with Nero?
Nero pairs naturally with gray tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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