Gray (X11 Gray)

HEX: #BEBEBE | Modern Palette

On White
1.86:1
FAIL
On Black
11.30:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#BEBEBE
RGB
190, 190, 190
HSL
0°, 0% ,74%
CMYK
0, 0, 0, 25.49

About Gray (X11 Gray)

Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE) is a color with RGB(190, 190, 190) and HSL(0°, 0%, 74.51%). It is commonly associated with Minimal moods. In design, it fits Monochrome, Pastel styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE), which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE) and Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE). The name comes from Gray (English).

  • HEX: #BEBEBE
  • RGB: 190, 190, 190
  • HSL: 0°, 0%, 74.51%
  • Mood: Minimal
  • Style: Monochrome, Pastel
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE)
  • Triadic colors: Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE), Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE)
  • The name comes from Gray (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
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

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

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

Triadic

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

Split-Complementary

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

Tetradic (Square)

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

Monochromatic

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

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #BEBEBE from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Minimal
Style
Monochrome Pastel
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #BEBEBE
Protanopia #BEBEBE
Tritanopia #BEBEBE
Achromatopsia #BEBEBE

Frequently Asked Questions

Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE) is a color with RGB(190, 190, 190) and HSL(0°, 0%, 74.51%).

#BEBEBE pairs strongly with Gray (X11 Gray) (#BEBEBE) as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

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

#BEBEBE is commonly associated with Minimal.

The name Gray (X11 Gray) is linked to Gray from English, meaning A color intermediate to black and white..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Gray
Meaning A color intermediate to black and white.
Language English
First Recorded Use Old English

History

The word 'gray' (or 'grey') has ancient Germanic roots, tracing back to Old English 'grǣġ'. It has consistently been used to describe the achromatic color between black and white. The specific 'X11 Gray' refers to a particular shade of gray defined within the X11 color naming system, which is a standard set of color names used in computer graphics, particularly with the X Window System. The hexadecimal code #bebebe represents a specific intensity of red, green, and blue light, resulting in this particular shade of gray.

First Recorded Use

Before 12th Century

Cultural Associations

Gray is often associated with neutrality, balance, sophistication, and formality. It can also evoke feelings of melancholy, modesty, or industrialism. In fashion, it's considered a versatile and classic color. In computing, the X11 color names, including 'Gray', were established for consistency across different display systems and applications, becoming a de facto standard for many years.

Similar Named Colors
Silver #C0C0C0 ΔE 0.52
Silver Sand #BFC1C2 ΔE 1.24
Pale Silver #C9C0BB ΔE 4.58
Silver Chalice #ACACAC ΔE 4.91

Code Snippets

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

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

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

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

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

// SCSS variable
$gray-(x11-gray): #BEBEBE;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$gray-(x11-gray)-r: 190;
$gray-(x11-gray)-g: 190;
$gray-(x11-gray)-b: 190;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $gray-(x11-gray);
    color: rgba($gray-(x11-gray)-r, $gray-(x11-gray)-g, $gray-(x11-gray)-b, 0.8);
}