Color #DBDBDB Color / Colour Code #DBDBDB
This page shows the hex color code for color #dbdbdb (#DBDBDB). The colour is a red tone with 0% saturation and 86% lightness. Explore its conversions, colour palettes, gradients, accessibility data, and CSS code below.
Color Conversions
Accessibility Contrast
WCAG contrast ratios for #DBDBDB against common backgrounds.
Complementary Colors
#DBDBDB paired with its color wheel opposite for maximum contrast.
Analogous Colors
Hues at 330, 0, and 30 degrees for harmonious combinations.
Triadic Palette
Three colors at 0, 120, and 240 degrees.
Color Palettes Using #DBDBDB
Five shades at lightness levels 15% through 85% while keeping hue at 0 and saturation at 0%. Use the darkest shade for text and the lightest for backgrounds to build a cohesive single-hue design system.
Adjacent hues from 0 to 45 degrees create a warm, unified palette. This analogous scheme works for marketing materials, seasonal campaigns, and any design that needs visual warmth without clashing colors.
Combines the base color at hue 0 with its complement at 180 and two adjacent cool tones. This split-complementary approach provides strong visual contrast while remaining more balanced than a pure complementary scheme.
Five evenly spaced hues at 40% saturation and 80% lightness. Pastels are gentle on the eyes and work well for dashboards, onboarding screens, category tags, and any interface where multiple distinct colors are needed without visual aggression.
Shades & Tints of #DBDBDB
Lightness variations at hue 0 and 0% saturation.
CSS Gradients with #DBDBDB
Design Use Cases for #DBDBDB
Neutral Foundation Color
#DBDBDB has almost no saturation (0%), making it an excellent neutral. Use it for page backgrounds, card surfaces, divider lines, and any element that should recede visually. Neutrals like this form the foundation of every professional design system.
Near-White Background
At 86% lightness, #DBDBDB is very close to white but carries a subtle red tint. This is perfect for alternating row backgrounds in tables, subtle section differentiation, and adding warmth or coolness to an otherwise stark white design.
Urgency & Energy Signaling
#DBDBDB falls in the red spectrum (hue 0). Red triggers urgency and excitement, making it effective for sale badges, countdown timers, error messages, and "limited time" labels. In data visualization, use it to flag negative values or critical thresholds.
Gradient Pairing
Create a gradient from #DBDBDB (hue 0) to its complement at hue 180. For a subtler effect, try pairing with an analogous color at hue 30. Use CSS: background: linear-gradient(135deg, #dbdbdb, #dbdbdb);
CSS Code for #DBDBDB
Similar Colors
Colors visually similar to #DBDBDB based on RGB, lightness, and hue variations.
Use This Color in Design Tools
Apply #DBDBDB across image editing and color design tools.
About Color #DBDBDB (#DBDBDB)
#DBDBDB is a red color (colour) with RGB channel values of 219 red, 219 green, and 219 blue. The red channel is dominant with a relatively balanced channel distribution. In HSL terms, the hue sits at 0 degrees with 0% saturation and 86% lightness, placing it in the warm range of the colour spectrum.
The perceived brightness of #DBDBDB is 219/255 using the ITU-R BT.601 luma formula (0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B). This means it appears bright to the human eye and is best paired with dark text for readability. For print production, the CMYK equivalent is 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 0% yellow, and 14% key (black).
The WCAG contrast ratio of #DBDBDB against white is 1.38:1 and against black is 15.17:1. This does not meet AA requirements on white. Use it on dark backgrounds where it achieves 15.17:1, or use it exclusively for decorative purposes.
The complementary colour #DBDBDB creates maximum visual tension when paired with #DBDBDB. For more harmonious color combinations, use the analogous colours #DBDBDB and #DBDBDB, which sit 30 degrees on either side of the hue wheel. To build a complete design system, start with the monochromatic scale above for consistent shade variations, then add one complementary or triadic accent for interactive elements.
How to Explore Color #DBDBDB
- Enter your color value in HEX format.
- The tool converts it to RGB, HSL, CMYK format in real time.
- Copy the converted value to your clipboard.
What is HEX to RGB, HSL, CMYK color conversion
Converting from HEX to RGB, HSL, CMYK translates a color value between two different color models. Different color models are used in web design (HEX, RGB), print (CMYK), and color theory (HSL, HSV).
Related Tools & Colors
Frequently Asked Questions
- What color / colour is #DBDBDB?
- #DBDBDB is Color #DBDBDB, a red color (colour) with RGB(219, 219, 219), HSL(0, 0%, 86%), and CMYK(0%, 0%, 0%, 14%). Its perceived brightness is 219/255.
- Is #DBDBDB accessible for text?
- Against white, #DBDBDB has a contrast ratio of 1.38:1 (fails AA for normal text). Against black, it has 15.17:1 (passes AA). Use the contrast checker tool for custom background pairings.
- What colours pair well with #DBDBDB?
- The complementary colour is #DBDBDB (hue 180). For subtle color combinations, use analogous colours #DBDBDB and #DBDBDB. The triadic palette adds #DBDBDB and #DBDBDB for vibrant variety.
- How do I use #DBDBDB in CSS?
- Use any format: color: #dbdbdb; or rgb(219, 219, 219); or hsl(0, 0%, 86%). For CSS custom properties: --color-primary: 0 0% 86%; then use it as hsl(var(--color-primary)).
- Is this color / colour explorer free?
- Yes, completely free with no signup required. All colour calculations run in your browser. You can explore any valid hex color code, not just the pre-generated palette.