Gray
HEX: #808080 | Modern Palette
Color Specifications
#808080
128, 128, 128
0°, 0% ,50%
0, 0, 0, 49.8
About Gray
Gray (#808080) is a color with RGB(128, 128, 128) and HSL(0°, 0%, 50.2%). It is commonly associated with Minimal moods. In design, it fits Monochrome, Muted styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is Gray (#808080), which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes Gray (#808080) and Gray (#808080). The name comes from *grēwaz (Proto-Germanic).
- HEX: #808080
- RGB: 128, 128, 128
- HSL: 0°, 0%, 50.2%
- Mood: Minimal
- Style: Monochrome, Muted
- Use case: Text, Background, Border
- Complementary color: Gray (#808080)
- Triadic colors: Gray (#808080), Gray (#808080)
- The name comes from *grēwaz (Proto-Germanic).
Live Components
Color Palettes
Gray #808080 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.
Color Harmonies
Gray #808080 pairs with Gray (#808080) as its complementary color, and Gray (#808080) and Gray (#808080) in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.
Complementary
The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.
Shades & Tints
The shade and tint range for Gray #808080 moves from dark #0D0D0D tones through the base color to lighter #F2F2F2 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.
Color Characteristics
Accessibility Simulation
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
Frequently Asked Questions
Name, History & Etymology
History
The word 'gray' has deep roots in Germanic languages. It evolved from the Proto-Germanic '*grēwaz', which also gave rise to similar words in Old High German ('grāo'), Old Norse ('grár'), and Dutch ('grauw'). In Old English, it appeared as 'grǣġ'. The meaning has consistently referred to the achromatic color between black and white, often associated with old age, dullness, or neutrality. Its spelling has remained relatively stable in English, with 'gray' being the predominant American spelling and 'grey' being more common in British English, though both are widely understood.
First Recorded Use
Before 12th Century
Cultural Associations
Gray is often associated with maturity, wisdom, and dignity due to its connection with the graying of hair in older individuals. It can also symbolize neutrality, compromise, and balance, as it sits between two extremes (black and white). In some contexts, gray can evoke feelings of melancholy, dullness, or industrialism. It is a common color in professional attire, suggesting sophistication and conservatism. In art and photography, gray tones are crucial for creating depth, mood, and realism.
Code Snippets
/* Background */
.element {
background-color: #808080;
}
/* Text */
.element {
color: #808080;
}
/* Border */
.element {
border: 1px solid #808080;
}/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
background: linear-gradient(
to right,
#808080,
#808080
);
}
/* Radial gradient */
.element {
background: radial-gradient(
circle,
#808080,
#808080
);
}// SCSS variable
$gray: #808080;
// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$gray-r: 128;
$gray-g: 128;
$gray-b: 128;
// Usage
.element {
background-color: $gray;
color: rgba($gray-r, $gray-g, $gray-b, 0.8);
}