Dark Gray (#A9A9A9)
The hex code for Dark Gray is #A9A9A9. It is rgb(169, 169, 169) in RGB, hsl(0, 0%, 66%) in HSL, and about cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 34%) in CMYK — a light gray. Black text is the more readable choice on this background.
#A9A9A9rgb(169, 169, 169)hsl(0, 0%, 66%)hsv(0, 0%, 66%)cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 34%)oklch(73.5% 0 0)lab(69.24% -0.00 0.00)lch(69.24% 0.00 0.00)Colors Closest to Dark Gray
Dark Gray is a registered color name, also listed as Dark Gray (X11). These are the named colors nearest to it, measured as CIE76 distance in CIELAB — a perceptual scale, so the ordering matches what the eye sees rather than how close the raw RGB numbers happen to sit.
Browse the full index of named colors A-Z or every gray in the library.
#A9A9A9 Channel Values
How Dark Gray breaks down in each color model. Hue is measured in degrees around the color wheel; saturation, lightness, and the CMYK inks are percentages.
| Model | Channels | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | R 169 · G 169 · B 169 | 8-bit channels as sent to the display |
| HSL | H 0° · S 0% · L 66% | Easiest model for building lighter and darker variants |
| HSV | H 0° · S 0% · V 66% | Matches the picker in most design tools |
| CMYK | C 0% · M 0% · Y 0% · K 34% | Approximate ink mix; confirm with an ICC profile before printing |
| Luminance | 2.35:1 vs white · 8.94:1 vs black | WCAG 2.2 relative-luminance contrast ratios |
Text Contrast & Accessibility
WCAG 2.2 contrast ratios for text on a Dark Gray background. AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Contrast is one check, not a full accessibility review.
Need a specific ratio against another background? Open #A9A9A9 in the contrast checker.
Colors That Go With Dark Gray
Pairings derived from color-wheel relationships. The complementary color sits opposite Dark Gray; analogous colors sit beside it; triadic and split-complementary sets spread evenly around the wheel. Select any swatch for its own breakdown.
Tints & Shades of Dark Gray
Lighter tints and darker shades built by moving the lightness channel while holding hue and saturation, which is what you want for hover states, backgrounds, and text variants.
Want a full 50-950 ramp with semantic roles? Generate design tokens from #A9A9A9.
How Dark Gray Looks with Color Vision Deficiency
Simulated with the Viénot, Brettel & Mollon LMS projection model. Anomalous types are rendered as partial versions of the matching dichromacy, which is an approximation rather than a per-person clinical model.
#A9A9A9#A9A9A9#A9A9A9#A9A9A9#A9A9A9#A9A9A9#A9A9A9#A9A9A9Using #A9A9A9 in Code
Copy-ready declarations for the places this color usually ends up.
--dark-gray: #A9A9A9;background-color: #A9A9A9;colors: { 'dark-gray': '#A9A9A9' }Color(red: 0.663, green: 0.663, blue: 0.663)<color name="dark_gray">#A9A9A9</color>fill="#A9A9A9"More Gray Colors
Dark Gray sits in the gray family. These are its neighbours across that family's full range, each with its own breakdown.
#A9A9A9 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for Dark Gray?
The hex code for Dark Gray is #A9A9A9. That is rgb(169, 169, 169) in RGB, hsl(0, 0%, 66%) in HSL, and approximately cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 34%) in CMYK.
What is the RGB value of #A9A9A9?
#A9A9A9 is rgb(169, 169, 169) — red 169, green 169, and blue 169 on the 0-255 scale.
What is the CMYK value of #A9A9A9?
#A9A9A9 converts to approximately cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 34%). CMYK output is a mathematical approximation for planning; confirm production print colors with your printer and ICC profile.
Should text on #A9A9A9 be black or white?
Black text is the more readable choice. #A9A9A9 scores 2.35:1 against white and 8.94:1 against black, and WCAG 2.2 asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal body text.
Is DarkGray a CSS named color?
Yes. DarkGray is one of the CSS named colors, so you can write color: darkgray instead of the hex code.
Open Dark Gray in a Tool
Keep exploring: every gray in the color library, the guide to shades of gray, or the full color library.