Charcoal & Charcoal, Gray Color Palette
:root {
--color-1: #1C1C1C;
--color-2: #3D3D3D;
--color-3: #787878;
--color-4: #C8C8C8;
}
colors: {
'palette-1': '#1C1C1C',
'palette-2': '#3D3D3D',
'palette-3': '#787878',
'palette-4': '#C8C8C8',
}
const palette = [
'#1C1C1C',
'#3D3D3D',
'#787878',
'#C8C8C8',
];
$color-1: #1C1C1C;
$color-2: #3D3D3D;
$color-3: #787878;
$color-4: #C8C8C8;
This is a neutral, calm and understated 4-colour palette pairing strongly contrasting colours for real visual punch.
About this color palette
This is a neutral, calm and understated 4-colour palette pairing strongly contrasting colours for real visual punch. It is anchored by Charcoal (#1C1C1C) and reads as well balanced in lightness, with an average saturation of 0% and lightness of 40%. It makes a clean, flexible base for minimal, content-focused designs.
The colors in this palette
Charcoal #1C1C1C
rgb(28, 28, 28) · hsl(0, 0%, 11%)
A deep, low-lightness tone — strong for text, headings and bold accents.
Charcoal #3D3D3D
rgb(61, 61, 61) · hsl(0, 0%, 24%)
A deep, low-lightness tone — strong for text, headings and bold accents.
Gray #787878
rgb(120, 120, 120) · hsl(0, 0%, 47%)
A soft, muted tone that suits calm backgrounds and large surfaces.
Light Gray #C8C8C8
rgb(200, 200, 200) · hsl(0, 0%, 78%)
A light, airy tone — ideal for backgrounds and subtle fills.
Accessibility & contrast
Colour contrast decides whether text stays readable. Here is how each pair of colours in this palette performs when one is used as text on the other, measured against the WCAG standard (AA needs 4.5:1, AAA needs 7:1).
| Text | Background | Ratio | AA | AAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1C1C1C | #C8C8C8 | 10.19:1 | Pass | Pass |
| #3D3D3D | #C8C8C8 | 6.49:1 | Pass | Fail |
| #1C1C1C | #787878 | 3.86:1 | Fail | Fail |
| #787878 | #C8C8C8 | 2.64:1 | Fail | Fail |
| #3D3D3D | #787878 | 2.46:1 | Fail | Fail |
| #1C1C1C | #3D3D3D | 1.57:1 | Fail | Fail |
How to use these colors
- Background — Light Gray (#C8C8C8): the lightest tone — a clean base for large areas
- Text — Charcoal (#1C1C1C): the darkest tone — readable for body copy and headings
- Primary — Charcoal (#1C1C1C): the most saturated tone — buttons, links and key UI
- Accent — Charcoal (#3D3D3D): a secondary highlight for badges and details
Colors that pair with this palette
Want to extend this palette? These colours pair naturally with its dominant Charcoal tone, based on colour-wheel harmony. Tap a swatch to explore that colour family.
Frequently asked questions
What colours are in this palette?
This palette has 4 colours: Charcoal (#1C1C1C), Charcoal (#3D3D3D), Gray (#787878) and Light Gray (#C8C8C8).
Is this a warm or cool colour palette?
It is largely neutral, built from low-saturation tones that stay flexible and understated.
What are the hex codes for this palette?
The hex codes are #1C1C1C, #3D3D3D, #787878 and #C8C8C8. You can copy them as CSS variables, Tailwind, SCSS or JSON from the code panel above.
Is this palette accessible for text?
Yes — Charcoal text on Light Gray reaches a contrast ratio of 10.19:1, which meets the WCAG AAA standard for readable text.