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Ruby vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Ruby and Grey is hue — Ruby is a warm pink, while Grey is a neutral gray. Ruby (#E0115F) has an HSL of 337°, 86%, 47%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Ruby#E0115F
Grey#808080
#E0115FBlended: #B04970#808080
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Ruby vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Ruby Grey
BrightnessMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=86%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyPinkGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#E0115F#808080
RGB224, 17, 95128, 128, 128

Can you use Ruby and Grey together?

Grey text on Ruby
Ruby text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:1.20:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Ruby and Grey Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Ruby looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 337° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Ruby or Grey: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickRuby

Ruby is more saturated (86% HSL vs 0%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Grey can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickRuby

Ruby hits a 4.76:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Grey only reaches 3.95:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickRuby

Ruby is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Grey leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickGrey

Grey is the more muted of the two (0% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Ruby's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Ruby vs Grey in Design

Use Ruby for:
●Soft feminine branding
●Beauty, skincare, romance
●Valentine's and weddings
●Youthful and playful design
●Gentle friendly UI accents
Use Grey for:
●Backgrounds and UI chrome
●Professional corporate design
●Minimalist and modern brands
●Text and secondary elements
●Architectural neutrals

Ruby and Grey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Ruby#E0115F

Ruby (#E0115F) is a medium, vivid pink with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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

Ruby 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
Ruby text on white
4.76:1AA
Sample text preview
Ruby text on black
4.41:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Ruby text on Grey
1.2:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Ruby
1.2:1Fail

Explore Ruby and Grey individually

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

Ruby color page#E0115F · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Ruby and Grey Comparisons

RedvsRubyRedvsGreyRubyvsWineGrayvsGreyRustvsGreyRubyvsBrickWinevsGreyBrownvsRubyRubyvsGarnetTaupevsGreyTomatovsRubyBlackvsGrey

Ruby vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between ruby and grey?+
The main difference between Ruby and Grey is hue — Ruby is a warm pink, while Grey is a neutral gray. Ruby (#E0115F) has an HSL of 337°, 86%, 47%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is ruby darker than grey?+
Yes. Ruby is darker, with a lightness of 47% in HSL compared to Grey at 50% — a 3-point gap.
Are ruby and grey the same color?+
No. Ruby is #E0115F and Grey is #808080. They differ by 23° in hue, 3% in lightness, and 86% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, ruby or grey?+
Ruby is more saturated. In HSL, Ruby has 86% saturation and Grey has 0% — Ruby is the more vivid of the two, while Grey reads as more muted.
Is ruby warm or cool?+
Ruby (#E0115F) is a warm pink. Its hue sits at 337° 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 ruby and grey together?+
Yes. Ruby (pink) 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 ruby belong to?+
Ruby belongs to the pink family. Its HSL is 337°, 86%, 47% — a warm tone within the broader pink group.
What is the hex code for ruby?+
The hex code for Ruby is #E0115F. In RGB, that's rgb(224, 17, 95), and in HSL it's hsl(337, 86%, 47%).
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%).