#262626

Color Profile: #262626

Common Name: Very Dark Gray

RGB: 38, 38, 38
HSL: 0°, 0%, 15%

Contrast Ratio:
vs White: 15.3:1 (Pass AA & AAA)
vs Black: 1.0:1 (Fail AA)

Mood & Use:
This deep gray leans heavily into sophistication and neutrality, making it a reliable base for visual art and design projects seeking a minimalist or modern aesthetic. It's popular in digital interfaces, urban art, and muted palettes, providing a grounding effect without the harshness of pure black.

Close Named Matches:

• Vista paint colors - Silent Sea #262627 ΔE=0.7
• Behr paint - Raven Black #242425 ΔE=1.17
• Kilz paint - Deep Onyx #242322 ΔE=1.63
• Pantone FHI - Tuxedo #252629 ΔE=2.16
• Australian Standard AS2700 - N61 Black #2C2C2C ΔE=2.84

Why Designers Use It.

• Its near-black darkness without being pure black offers designers a softer, more nuanced alternative, reducing eye strain especially in digital and print media.
• This color harmonizes well with a wide range of hues, from vibrant colors to pastels, making it a versatile neutral base in visual art, graphic design, and UI/UX.
• Trendwise, it fits perfectly into modern minimalism and industrial aesthetics, frequently used in tech branding, editorial design, and contemporary art installations.
• Regionally, this tone is appreciated globally but has strong roots in Western modern design due to its balance between black’s intensity and gray’s neutrality.
• It’s not a natural pigment per se but more of a digital and synthetic standard favored in coatings, textiles, and plastics where deep neutral shades are required.
• This shade is often found in automotive interiors, consumer electronics (keyboards, casings), and modern architectural finishes due to its subdued yet authoritative presence.