Gray

Colors that go with gray

Gray (#808080) is a medium gray. Colors that go well with gray include Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080). For a safe, polished look, pair gray with a soft off-white like #F5F5F5 and a deep neutral like #1B1B1B; for contrast, add a touch of its complement #808080.

Build a gray palette #808080 color details

Best colors to pair with gray

ComplementaryGrey #808080
Opposite gray on the color wheel, so it creates the strongest, most energetic contrast. Use it sparingly as an accent.
Split complementaryGrey #808080
Sits next to gray's complement: lively contrast with less tension than the direct opposite.
AnalogousGrey #808080
A neighbouring hue that blends naturally with gray for calm, cohesive designs.
AnalogousGrey #808080
The neighbour on the other side of gray — pair both for a soft, harmonious scheme.
TriadicGrey #808080
One third of the way around the wheel from gray: vibrant but balanced.
Light neutralWhite Smoke #F5F5F5
An off-white with a hint of gray — an easy background that never feels stark.
Dark neutralCoco’s Black #1B1B1B
A deep, gray-tinted near-black for text and dark sections; softer than pure black.
GrayPetrified #8C8981
A warm-or-cool gray matched to gray for borders, captions and secondary UI.

Gray color palettes

Each palette keeps #808080 in the middle; open one in the generator to tweak it.

From our palette library

Text and backgrounds with gray

AaText on a gray background

5.32:1GoodBlack text on #808080

AaGray text on a light background

5.32:1Good#808080 text on #000000

Check any other pair with the contrast checker.

FAQ

What colors go with gray?

Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080), Grey (#808080) go well with gray. Neutrals such as #F5F5F5 and #1B1B1B are the easiest companions, and #808080 adds bold contrast as its complementary color.

What is the complementary color of gray?

The complementary color of gray (#808080) is #808080 (Grey), which sits opposite it on the color wheel.

What neutral colors go with gray?

Off-whites, creams and grays with a slight gray tint, such as #F5F5F5 and #8C8981, plus a deep near-black like #1B1B1B. Tinted neutrals look more cohesive than pure white, gray or black.

What text color should I use on gray?

Black text on #808080 has a contrast ratio of 5.32:1 (good). For gray text, use a background like #000000 (5.32:1, good).

Is gray a warm or cool color?

Gray is a neutral color in the gray family.

More gray colors

All colors