Ash Grey

HEX: #B2BEB5 | Modern Palette

On White
1.92:1
FAIL
On Black
10.93:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#B2BEB5
RGB
178, 190, 181
HSL
135°, 8% ,72%
CMYK
6, 0, 5, 25

About Ash Grey

Ash Grey (#B2BEB5) is a color with RGB(178, 190, 181) and HSL(135°, 8.5%, 72.2%). It is commonly associated with Minimal, Calm moods. In design, it fits Monochrome, Pastel styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is #BEB2BB, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #B5B2BE and #BEB5B2. The name comes from Ash Grey (English).

  • HEX: #B2BEB5
  • RGB: 178, 190, 181
  • HSL: 135°, 8.5%, 72.2%
  • Mood: Minimal, Calm
  • Style: Monochrome, Pastel
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: #BEB2BB
  • Triadic colors: #B5B2BE, #BEB5B2
  • The name comes from Ash Grey (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Ash Grey #B2BEB5 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.
 
 
 
ASH GREY
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
ASH GREY
 
 
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

Ash Grey #B2BEB5 pairs with #BEB2BB as its complementary color, and #B5B2BE and #BEB5B2 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.

ASH GREY
Analogous

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

ASH GREY
Triadic

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

ASH GREY
Split-Complementary

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

ASH GREY
Tetradic (Square)

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

ASH GREY
Monochromatic

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

ASH GREY

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Ash Grey #B2BEB5 moves from dark #0C0E0C tones through the base color to lighter #F1F3F2 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

ASH GREY

Color Characteristics

Mood
Minimal Calm
Style
Monochrome Pastel
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #BBBBB5
Protanopia #BDBDB5
Tritanopia #B3BDBD
Achromatopsia #BBBBBB

Frequently Asked Questions

Ash Grey (#B2BEB5) is a color with RGB(178, 190, 181) and HSL(135°, 8.5%, 72.2%).

#B2BEB5 pairs strongly with #BEB2BB as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#B2BEB5 is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Monochrome, Pastel styles.

#B2BEB5 is commonly associated with Minimal, Calm.

The name Ash Grey is linked to Ash Grey from English, meaning A grey color resembling the color of wood ash..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Ash Grey
Meaning A grey color resembling the color of wood ash.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 17th - Early 18th Century

History

The concept of 'grey' as a color has existed since ancient times, often associated with neutrality, old age, and somberness. The specific descriptor 'ash grey' arises from the common experience of observing the residue of burnt wood. This natural and widely understood reference made 'ash grey' an intuitive and effective way to communicate a particular light to medium, often slightly cool, shade of grey. Its use has been consistent across various fields, from fashion and textiles to art and interior design, whenever a natural, muted grey is desired.

First Recorded Use

The term 'ash grey' or 'ash-grey' to describe a specific shade of grey has been in use in English for several centuries. While pinpointing an exact 'first use' date for a descriptive color term can be challenging, its appearance in literature and descriptive texts becomes more common from the late 17th to early 18th century onwards. For instance, 'ash-coloured' is found earlier, but 'ash grey' as a compound term for the specific shade solidifies around this period.

Cultural Associations

Culturally, ash grey often carries connotations of naturalness, subtlety, and sometimes melancholy or solemnity. It's a color frequently associated with winter landscapes, old stone, and natural fibers. In fashion, it's considered a sophisticated and versatile neutral. In art, it can be used to create depth, shadow, or a sense of quietude. Its connection to ash can also subtly evoke themes of endings, transformation, or the passage of time, though it is generally perceived as a neutral and understated color.

Similar Named Colors
Pastel Gray #CFCFC4 ΔE 7.16
Cambridge Blue #A3C1AD ΔE 7.45
Silver Sand #BFC1C2 ΔE 7.51
Gray (X11 Gray) #BEBEBE ΔE 7.73

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #B2BEB5;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #B2BEB5;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #B2BEB5;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #B2BEB5,
        #BEB2BB
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #B2BEB5,
        #BEB2BB
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$ash-grey: #B2BEB5;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$ash-grey-r: 178;
$ash-grey-g: 190;
$ash-grey-b: 181;

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