Gainsboro

HEX: #DCDCDC | Modern Palette

On White
1.37:1
FAIL
On Black
15.31:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#DCDCDC
RGB
220, 220, 220
HSL
0°, 0% ,86%
CMYK
0, 0, 0, 14

About Gainsboro

Gainsboro (#DCDCDC) is a color with RGB(220, 220, 220) and HSL(0°, 0%, 86.3%). It is commonly associated with Minimal moods. In design, it fits Monochrome, Pastel styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Print. Its complementary color is Gainsboro (#DCDCDC), which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes Gainsboro (#DCDCDC) and Gainsboro (#DCDCDC). The name comes from Gainsborough (English).

  • HEX: #DCDCDC
  • RGB: 220, 220, 220
  • HSL: 0°, 0%, 86.3%
  • Mood: Minimal
  • Style: Monochrome, Pastel
  • Use case: Text, Background, Print
  • Complementary color: Gainsboro (#DCDCDC)
  • Triadic colors: Gainsboro (#DCDCDC), Gainsboro (#DCDCDC)
  • The name comes from Gainsborough (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
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

Complementary

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

Analogous

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

Triadic

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

Split-Complementary

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

Tetradic (Square)

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

Monochromatic

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

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #DCDCDC from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Minimal
Style
Monochrome Pastel
Use case
Text Background Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #DCDCDC
Protanopia #DCDCDC
Tritanopia #DCDCDC
Achromatopsia #DCDCDC

Frequently Asked Questions

Gainsboro (#DCDCDC) is a color with RGB(220, 220, 220) and HSL(0°, 0%, 86.3%).

#DCDCDC pairs strongly with Gainsboro (#DCDCDC) as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#DCDCDC is suitable for Text, Background, Print and works well with Monochrome, Pastel styles.

#DCDCDC is commonly associated with Minimal.

The name Gainsboro is linked to Gainsborough from English, meaning A town in Lincolnshire, England, and the surname of a famous painter..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Gainsborough
Meaning A town in Lincolnshire, England, and the surname of a famous painter.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th - Early 20th Century

History

The color 'Gainsboro' is named after the English painter Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788), known for his portraits and landscapes. While Gainsborough's palette was diverse, he often used subtle greys and blues. The specific light grey shade 'Gainsboro' was formalized as part of the X11 color names, which were developed for the X Window System. It's a very light, desaturated grey, almost white, making it a popular choice for backgrounds and subtle borders in digital interfaces.

First Recorded Use

The specific use of 'Gainsboro' as a color name (especially in web contexts) became prominent with the X11 color names in the late 1980s/early 1990s. However, 'Gainsborough grey' or similar terms might have existed informally earlier.

Cultural Associations

In digital design and web development, 'Gainsboro' is a widely recognized and utilized color due to its inclusion in standard color palettes like X11 and later CSS. It's often chosen for its neutrality and ability to provide a soft contrast without being stark. It evokes a sense of subtlety, professionalism, and cleanliness.

Similar Named Colors
Light Gray #D3D3D3 ΔE 2.08
Platinum #E5E4E2 ΔE 2.09
Timberwolf #DBD7D2 ΔE 3.02
Munsell #F2F3F4 ΔE 4.99

Code Snippets

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

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #DCDCDC;
}

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

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

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

// SCSS variable
$gainsboro: #DCDCDC;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$gainsboro-r: 220;
$gainsboro-g: 220;
$gainsboro-b: 220;

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