Black vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Black and Grey is hue — Black is a neutral near-black, while Grey is a neutral gray. Black (#000000) has an HSL of 0°, 0%, 0%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Black#000000

Grey#808080

#000000Blended: #404040#808080

Black vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Black Grey

BrightnessVery dark (L=0%) — deep, heavy, groundedMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrainedNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained

Hue familyNear-blackGray

TemperatureNeutralNeutral

Hex code#000000#808080

RGB0, 0, 0128, 128, 128

Can you use Black and Grey together?

Grey text on Black

Black text on Grey

Contrast Ratio:5.32:1WCAG AA Pass ✓

How to Tell Black and Grey Apart

●Look at lightness first: Grey is noticeably lighter.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Black vs Grey in Design

Use Black for:

●Typography and strong contrast

●Luxury and premium goods

●Editorial headers and titles

●Dark-mode backgrounds

●Bold modern UI accents

Use Grey for:

●Backgrounds and UI chrome

●Professional corporate design

●Minimalist and modern brands

●Text and secondary elements

●Architectural neutrals

Black and Grey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Black#000000

Black (#000000) is a very dark, near-neutral near-black with a neutral undertone — it feels deep, heavy, grounded and desaturated and restrained.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Grey#808080

Grey (#808080) is a medium, near-neutral gray with a neutral undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Black and Grey WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview

Black text on white

21:1AAA

Sample text preview

Black text on black

1:1Fail

Sample text preview

Grey text on white

3.95:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Grey text on black

5.32:1AA

Sample text preview

Black text on Grey

5.32:1AA

Sample text preview

Grey text on Black

5.32:1AA

Explore Black and Grey individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Black color page#000000 · shades, tints, pairings Grey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Black and Grey Comparisons

Black vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between black and grey?+

The main difference between Black and Grey is hue — Black is a neutral near-black, while Grey is a neutral gray. Black (#000000) has an HSL of 0°, 0%, 0%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Is black darker than grey?+

Yes. Black is darker, with a lightness of 0% in HSL compared to Grey at 50% — a 50-point gap.

Are black and grey the same color?+

No. Black is #000000 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 0° in hue, 50% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, black or grey?+

They have nearly identical saturation — Black at 0% and Grey at 0% in HSL.

Is black warm or cool?+

Black (#000000) is a neutral near-black. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the neutral range.

Is grey warm or cool?+

Grey (#808080) is a neutral gray. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the neutral range.

Can you use black and grey together?+

Yes. Black (near-black) and Grey (gray) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.

What color family does black belong to?+

Black belongs to the near-black family. Its HSL is 0°, 0%, 0% — a neutral tone within the broader near-black group.

What is the hex code for black?+

The hex code for Black is #000000. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 0, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 0%, 0%).

What is the hex code for grey?+

The hex code for Grey is #808080. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 128, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 0%, 50%).