The main difference between Pewter and Gunmetal is hue — Pewter is a neutral gray, while Gunmetal is a cool blue. Pewter and Gunmetal are often confused but differ in brightness, saturation, and undertone. Pewter (#8E9191) and Gunmetal (#2A3439) each have distinct characteristics and best uses.
Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.
Gunmetal is more saturated (15% HSL vs 1%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Pewter can feel washed out when printed small.
Gunmetal hits a 12.74:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Pewter only reaches 3.18:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Pewter is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Gunmetal leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Pewter is the more muted of the two (1% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Gunmetal's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Pewter (#8E9191) is a medium, near-neutral gray with a neutral undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.
Gunmetal (#2A3439) is a very dark, muted blue with a cool undertone — it feels deep, heavy, grounded and subdued, sophisticated.
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.
Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.