About gray.400
At #9ca3af, gray.400 is a mid-toned gray with a muted presence, nearest to cool_gray. In color psychology it reads as neutral, practical, and balanced — a neutral presence, and it carries the steadiness designers lean on for trust-centered brands.
For text on gray.400, black performs best at 8.27:1 — passing WCAG AAA. In a palette it suits background or secondary roles.
Contrast Accessibility
With white
2.54:1
With black
8.27:1
Color Conversions
#9ca3af
rgb(156, 163, 175)
hsl(218°, 11%, 65%)
oklch(0.714 0.019 261.3)
cmyk(1100%, 700%, 0%, 3100%)
Tint & Shade Scale
A 10-step scale from light to dark, anchored to the base color at step 500. Click any swatch to copy its hex.
Tone Scale
Color mixed with gray — reduces saturation without changing lightness. Click any swatch to copy its hex.
Temperature
Hue shifted cooler and warmer in equal steps. Click any swatch to copy its hex.
Color Psychology
Adds: versatility, balance
A neutral, neutral tone.
Keeps attention on content; ubiquitous in modern UIs.
Learn more about color psychology →Palette Narrative
A thoughtfully curated palette evoking balanced, neutral, practical. Well-suited for professional and subtle brand contexts. A focused selection that communicates intent clearly.
Inspired Palettes
Shades
Lightness variations keeping hue and chroma intact
Monochromatic
Single hue with varied lightness and chroma
Complementary
Opposite hues on the color wheel for maximum contrast
Triadic
Three evenly spaced hues for vibrant balance
Analogous
Neighboring hues for natural, serene combinations
Split Complementary
Complement split into two flanking hues
Generic Gradient
Smooth lightness ramp from dark to light
Matching Gradient
Lightness ramp with a gentle hue drift
Skip Gradient
Alternating light and dark steps for rhythm
9 of 28 palettes from #9ca3af
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