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Greige vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Greige and Grey is hue — Greige is a warm orange, while Grey is a neutral gray. Greige (#B2A591) has an HSL of 36°, 18%, 63%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Greige#B2A591
Grey#808080
#B2A591Blended: #999389#808080

Greige vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Greige Grey
BrightnessLight (L=63%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationMuted (S=18%) — subdued, sophisticatedNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyOrangeGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#B2A591#808080
RGB178, 165, 145128, 128, 128

Can you use Greige and Grey together?

Grey text on Greige
Greige text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:1.63:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Greige and Grey Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Greige is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Greige looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 36° 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 Greige vs Grey in Design

Use Greige 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

Greige and Grey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Greige#B2A591

Greige (#B2A591) is a light, muted orange with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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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
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Greige 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
Greige text on white
2.42:1Fail
Sample text preview
Greige text on black
8.68:1AAA
Sample text preview
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Greige text on Grey
1.63:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Greige
1.63:1Fail

Explore Greige and Grey individually

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

Greige color page#B2A591 · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Greige and Grey Comparisons

TanvsGreigeRedvsGreyGreigevsGrayGrayvsGreySandvsGreigeRustvsGreyWinevsGreyGoldvsGreigeRubyvsGreyPeruvsGreigeTaupevsGreyRustvsGreige

Greige vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between greige and grey?+
The main difference between Greige and Grey is hue — Greige is a warm orange, while Grey is a neutral gray. Greige (#B2A591) has an HSL of 36°, 18%, 63%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is greige darker than grey?+
No. Grey is the darker of the two at 50% lightness, while Greige sits higher at 63%.
Are greige and grey the same color?+
No. Greige is #B2A591 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 36° in hue, 13% in lightness, and 18% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, greige or grey?+
Greige is more saturated. In HSL, Greige has 18% saturation and Grey has 0% — Greige is the more vivid of the two, while Grey reads as more muted.
Is greige warm or cool?+
Greige (#B2A591) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 36° 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 greige and grey together?+
Yes. Greige (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 greige belong to?+
Greige belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 36°, 18%, 63% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for greige?+
The hex code for Greige is #B2A591. In RGB, that's rgb(178, 165, 145), and in HSL it's hsl(36, 18%, 63%).
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%).