← Shades of gray

≈ Pebble

#9E9271 is closest to Pebble in our library. Pebble (#9E9271) is a medium, muted gray with a warm-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 44° and a lightness of 66%. Its muted saturation keeps it calm and sophisticated, easy to live with in large areas.

#9E9271≈ Pebble
Conversion

What Pebble looks like, feels like and where it works.

Description

Pebble (#9E9271) is a medium, muted gray with a warm-leaning neutral feel. It has a hue angle of 44° and a lightness of 66%. Its muted saturation keeps it calm and sophisticated, easy to live with in large areas.

Psychology

Gray is neutral and composed. It recedes, which is why it is the workhorse of interfaces: borders, secondary text and surfaces that let accents stand out. As a mid-toned shade, Pebble sits comfortably in the middle: present but not heavy.

Meaning

Gray suggests balance, restraint and professionalism, and sometimes dullness if nothing else adds life.

Why use this color

Pebble is an easy supporting color. It is best as an accent, illustration or large heading color, with a lighter or darker partner for body text. Pair it with its tints and shades for a complete scale.

Applications
  • UI borders, text and surfaces
  • Technology and architecture
  • Minimal, balanced layouts
  • Backdrops for accent colors
History

Gray is one of the oldest color words in English. Payne's gray is named after the eighteenth century watercolorist William Payne.

Accessibility

White text on Pebble has a contrast ratio of 3.08:1 (fails for body text); black text has 6.80:1 (AA). WCAG AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text and interface parts. Do not rely on color alone to carry meaning: pair it with text, an icon or a pattern.

ShadesMixed with black: darker and richer.
TintsMixed with white: lighter and softer.
TonesMixed with gray: quieter and less saturated.
HuesThe same lightness and strength, turned around the wheel.
TemperaturesPushed cooler on the left, warmer on the right.
50#F8F7F2100#EEEBE2200#E0DACB300#C9C0A9400#ACA183500#9E9271600#796E50700#61573D800#49422D900#36301F950#1E1A0F
Analogous
Complementary
Split complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square

Want to explore these on a wheel? Open the color wheel.

#9E9271
Typical visionAs most people see it
#99916F
ProtanopiaReduced sensitivity to red
#9D9472
DeuteranopiaReduced sensitivity to green
#A58D89
TritanopiaReduced sensitivity to blue
#939393
AchromatopsiaNo color, only light and dark

These are approximations to help you check that meaning never depends on color alone. Real vision varies from person to person.

White textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
3.08:1
AAAAA
Normal textFailFail
Large textAAFail
Black textQuote n. 31: there is no such thing as a bad color.
6.80:1
AAAAA
Normal textAAFail
Large textAAAAA
Open the contrast checker
#9E9271 Color — closest to Pebble (HEX, RGB, Shades) · Tintly