Copper vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Copper and Grey is hue — Copper is a warm orange, while Grey is a neutral gray. Copper (#B87333) has an HSL of 29°, 57%, 46%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Copper#B87333

Grey#808080

#B87333Blended: #9C7A5A#808080

Copper vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Copper Grey

BrightnessMedium (L=46%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationModerately saturated (S=57%) — balanced in intensityNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained

Hue familyOrangeGray

TemperatureWarmNeutral

Hex code#B87333#808080

RGB184, 115, 51128, 128, 128

Can you use Copper and Grey together?

Grey text on Copper

Copper text on Grey

Contrast Ratio:1.04:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Copper and Grey Apart

●Check saturation: Copper looks more vivid and saturated.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 29° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Copper vs Grey in Design

Use Copper for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Use Grey for:

●Backgrounds and UI chrome

●Professional corporate design

●Minimalist and modern brands

●Text and secondary elements

●Architectural neutrals

Copper and Grey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Copper#B87333

Copper (#B87333) is a medium, moderately saturated orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

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

Copper 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

Copper text on white

3.79:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Copper text on black

5.54:1AA

Sample text preview

Grey text on white

3.95:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Grey text on black

5.32:1AA

Sample text preview

Copper text on Grey

1.04:1Fail

Sample text preview

Grey text on Copper

1.04:1Fail

Explore Copper and Grey individually

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

Copper color page#B87333 · shades, tints, pairings Grey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Copper and Grey Comparisons

Copper vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between copper and grey?+

The main difference between Copper and Grey is hue — Copper is a warm orange, while Grey is a neutral gray. Copper (#B87333) has an HSL of 29°, 57%, 46%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Is copper darker than grey?+

Yes. Copper is darker, with a lightness of 46% in HSL compared to Grey at 50% — a 4-point gap.

Are copper and grey the same color?+

No. Copper is #B87333 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 29° in hue, 4% in lightness, and 57% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, copper or grey?+

Copper is more saturated. In HSL, Copper has 57% saturation and Grey has 0% — Copper is the more vivid of the two, while Grey reads as more muted.

Is copper warm or cool?+

Copper (#B87333) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 29° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm 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 copper and grey together?+

Yes. Copper (orange) 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 copper belong to?+

Copper belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 29°, 57%, 46% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.

What is the hex code for copper?+

The hex code for Copper is #B87333. In RGB, that's rgb(184, 115, 51), and in HSL it's hsl(29, 57%, 46%).

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%).