Cool Grey

HEX: #8C92AC | Modern Palette

On White
3.08:1
FAIL
On Black
6.82:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#8C92AC
RGB
140, 146, 172
HSL
228°, 18% ,67%
CMYK
18.6, 15.12, 0, 32.55

About Cool Grey

Cool Grey (#8C92AC) is a color with RGB(140, 146, 172) and HSL(228.75°, 18.6%, 67.45%). It is commonly associated with Calm moods. In design, it fits Muted, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Border. Its complementary color is #ACA68C, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #AC8C92 and #92AC8C. The name comes from Cool Grey (English).

  • HEX: #8C92AC
  • RGB: 140, 146, 172
  • HSL: 228.75°, 18.6%, 67.45%
  • Mood: Calm
  • Style: Muted, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Background, Border
  • Complementary color: #ACA68C
  • Triadic colors: #AC8C92, #92AC8C
  • The name comes from Cool Grey (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Cool Grey #8C92AC is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
 
COOL GREY
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
COOL GREY
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Cool Grey #8C92AC pairs with #ACA68C as its complementary color, and #AC8C92 and #92AC8C in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

COOL GREY
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

COOL GREY
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

COOL GREY
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

COOL GREY
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

COOL GREY
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

COOL GREY

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Cool Grey #8C92AC moves from dark #0B0B0F tones through the base color to lighter #F0F1F4 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

COOL GREY

Color Characteristics

Mood
Calm
Style
Muted Cool
Use case
Text Background Border

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #9090AC
Protanopia #9191AC
Tritanopia #889696
Achromatopsia #939393

Frequently Asked Questions

Cool Grey (#8C92AC) is a color with RGB(140, 146, 172) and HSL(228.75°, 18.6%, 67.45%).

#8C92AC pairs strongly with #ACA68C as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#8C92AC is suitable for Text, Background, Border and works well with Muted, Cool styles.

#8C92AC is commonly associated with Calm.

The name Cool Grey is linked to Cool Grey from English, meaning A shade of grey that incorporates blue undertones, giving it a 'cooler' visual temperature compared to 'warm greys' which might have yellow or red undertones..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Cool Grey
Meaning A shade of grey that incorporates blue undertones, giving it a 'cooler' visual temperature compared to 'warm greys' which might have yellow or red undertones.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 20th Century

History

The concept of 'cool' and 'warm' colors has roots in art theory, dating back centuries. However, the precise naming and popularization of 'Cool Grey' as a distinct and marketable color name is a more modern phenomenon. Its rise is closely tied to minimalist design trends, the increasing sophistication of color naming in consumer products, and its prominent use in popular culture, especially in athletic footwear. The hexadecimal code #8c92ac specifically represents a medium-light cool grey.

First Recorded Use

The specific term 'Cool Grey' gained significant traction in design, fashion, and particularly in the sneaker industry (most notably with Nike's 'Cool Grey' colorway) starting in the 1990s and early 2000s. While 'cool' and 'grey' have existed for centuries, their combination as a standardized color name is more recent.

Cultural Associations

In popular culture, 'Cool Grey' is strongly associated with sophistication, modernity, and a certain understated elegance. It's a versatile neutral that can be both calming and stylish. Its most famous cultural association is arguably with Nike's Air Jordan line, where 'Cool Grey' colorways are highly sought after and iconic. It also frequently appears in interior design, fashion, and automotive design for its ability to convey a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.

Similar Named Colors
Manatee #979AAA ΔE 4.59
Roman Silver #838996 ΔE 6.38
Shadow Blue #778BA5 ΔE 6.72
Ceil #92A1CF ΔE 7.69

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #8C92AC;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #8C92AC;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #8C92AC;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #8C92AC,
        #BBB69D
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #8C92AC,
        #BBB69D
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$cool-grey: #8C92AC;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$cool-grey-r: 140;
$cool-grey-g: 146;
$cool-grey-b: 172;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $cool-grey;
    color: rgba($cool-grey-r, $cool-grey-g, $cool-grey-b, 0.8);
}