Charcoal

HEX: #36454F | Modern Palette

On White
9.90:1
PASS
On Black
2.12:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#36454F
RGB
54, 69, 79
HSL
204°, 31% ,30%
CMYK
31.65, 12.66, 0, 69.02

About Charcoal

Charcoal (#36454F) is a color with RGB(54, 69, 79) and HSL(204°, 31.65%, 30.98%). It is commonly associated with Calm, Luxury moods. In design, it fits Muted, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Print. Its complementary color is #4F4036, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #4F3645 and #454F36. The name comes from Charcoal (English).

  • HEX: #36454F
  • RGB: 54, 69, 79
  • HSL: 204°, 31.65%, 30.98%
  • Mood: Calm, Luxury
  • Style: Muted, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Print
  • Complementary color: #4F4036
  • Triadic colors: #4F3645, #454F36
  • The name comes from Charcoal (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Charcoal #36454F is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
CHARCOAL
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CHARCOAL
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Charcoal #36454F pairs with #4F4036 as its complementary color, and #4F3645 and #454F36 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.

CHARCOAL
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

CHARCOAL
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

CHARCOAL
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

CHARCOAL
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

CHARCOAL
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

CHARCOAL

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Charcoal #36454F moves from dark #0A0D0F tones through the base color to lighter #F0F3F5 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CHARCOAL

Color Characteristics

Mood
Calm Luxury
Style
Muted Cool
Use case
Text Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #41414F
Protanopia #44444F
Tritanopia #344646
Achromatopsia #434343

Frequently Asked Questions

Charcoal (#36454F) is a color with RGB(54, 69, 79) and HSL(204°, 31.65%, 30.98%).

#36454F pairs strongly with #4F4036 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#36454F is suitable for Text, Print and works well with Muted, Cool styles.

#36454F is commonly associated with Calm, Luxury.

The name Charcoal is linked to Charcoal from English, meaning A dark or black porous carbonaceous material, obtained by heating wood or other organic substances in the absence of air..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Charcoal
Meaning A dark or black porous carbonaceous material, obtained by heating wood or other organic substances in the absence of air.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late Middle English

History

The word 'charcoal' is believed to be a compound of 'char' (from Old English 'cierran' meaning 'to turn, change, return') and 'coal' (from Old English 'col'). The 'char' element likely refers to the process of burning or scorching. Early charcoal production was essential for metallurgy, particularly for iron smelting, as it provided a hotter and cleaner-burning fuel than wood. It was also used for drawing and as a component in gunpowder. Its use dates back to ancient times, with evidence of charcoal production found in archaeological sites worldwide.

First Recorded Use

Late 14th century

Cultural Associations

Charcoal has played a significant role in human culture. In art, it's one of the oldest drawing materials, prized for its rich blacks and ease of smudging. Historically, it was crucial for industrial development, powering forges and furnaces. In some cultures, charcoal has been used for purification, filtration (e.g., water, air), and even in traditional medicine. Its distinctive smell is often associated with barbecues and campfires, evoking a sense of primal cooking and outdoor living.

Similar Named Colors
Arsenic #3B444B ΔE 2.41
Outer Space #414A4C ΔE 4.81
Japanese Indigo #264348 ΔE 6.83
Onyx #353839 ΔE 7.21

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #36454F;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #36454F;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #36454F;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #36454F,
        #684A36
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #36454F,
        #684A36
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$charcoal: #36454F;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$charcoal-r: 54;
$charcoal-g: 69;
$charcoal-b: 79;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $charcoal;
    color: rgba($charcoal-r, $charcoal-g, $charcoal-b, 0.8);
}