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Slate Grey vs Pewter: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Slate Grey and Pewter is hue — Slate Grey is a cool blue, while Pewter is a neutral gray. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Pewter (#8E9191) sits at 180°, 1%, 56%.

Slate Grey#708090
Pewter#8E9191
#708090Blended: #7F8991#8E9191
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Slate Grey vs Pewter: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Slate Grey Pewter
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=56%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationNear-neutral (S=13%) — desaturated and restrainedNear-neutral (S=1%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyBlueGray
TemperatureCoolNeutral
Hex code#708090#8E9191
RGB112, 128, 144142, 145, 145

Can you use Slate Grey and Pewter together?

Pewter text on Slate Grey
Slate Grey text on Pewter
Contrast Ratio:1.28:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Slate Grey and Pewter Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Slate Grey looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 30° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Slate Grey or Pewter: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickSlate Grey

Slate Grey is more saturated (13% HSL vs 1%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Pewter can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickSlate Grey

Slate Grey hits a 4.05:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Pewter only reaches 3.18:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickPewter

Pewter is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Slate Grey leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickPewter

Pewter is the more muted of the two (1% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Slate Grey's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Slate Grey vs Pewter in Design

Use Slate Grey for:
●Tech and corporate trust
●Finance and banking brands
●Links and primary buttons
●Medical and professional UI
●Calm dependable visuals
Use Pewter for:
●Backgrounds and UI chrome
●Professional corporate design
●Minimalist and modern brands
●Text and secondary elements
●Architectural neutrals

Slate Grey and Pewter Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Slate Grey#708090

Slate Grey (#708090) is a medium, near-neutral blue with a cool undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Pewter#8E9191

Pewter (#8E9191) 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

Slate Grey and Pewter 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
Slate Grey text on white
4.05:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on black
5.18:1AA
Sample text preview
Pewter text on white
3.18:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Pewter text on black
6.61:1AA
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on Pewter
1.28:1Fail
Sample text preview
Pewter text on Slate Grey
1.28:1Fail

Explore Slate Grey and Pewter individually

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

Slate Grey color page#708090 · shades, tints, pairingsPewter color page#8E9191 · shades, tints, pairings

More Slate Grey and Pewter Comparisons

AshvsPewterCharcoalvsSlate GreyGrayvsPewterSlate GreyvsGunmetalAquavsPewterSlate GreyvsSky BlueCyanvsPewterBaby BluevsSlate GreySmokevsPewterNavy BluevsSlate GreyPewtervsSilverSlate GrayvsSlate Grey

Slate Grey vs Pewter FAQ

What is the difference between slate grey and pewter?+
The main difference between Slate Grey and Pewter is hue — Slate Grey is a cool blue, while Pewter is a neutral gray. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Pewter (#8E9191) sits at 180°, 1%, 56%.
Is slate grey darker than pewter?+
Yes. Slate Grey is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Pewter at 56% — a 6-point gap.
Are slate grey and pewter the same color?+
No. Slate Grey is #708090 and Pewter is #8E9191. They differ by 30° in hue, 6% in lightness, and 12% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, slate grey or pewter?+
Slate Grey is more saturated. In HSL, Slate Grey has 13% saturation and Pewter has 1% — Slate Grey is the more vivid of the two, while Pewter reads as more muted.
Is slate grey warm or cool?+
Slate Grey (#708090) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 210° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Is pewter warm or cool?+
Pewter (#8E9191) is a neutral gray. Its hue sits at 180° on the color wheel, which places it in the neutral range.
Can you use slate grey and pewter together?+
Yes. Slate Grey (blue) and Pewter (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 slate grey belong to?+
Slate Grey belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 210°, 13%, 50% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.
What is the hex code for slate grey?+
The hex code for Slate Grey is #708090. In RGB, that's rgb(112, 128, 144), and in HSL it's hsl(210, 13%, 50%).
What is the hex code for pewter?+
The hex code for Pewter is #8E9191. In RGB, that's rgb(142, 145, 145), and in HSL it's hsl(180, 1%, 56%).