136 Shades of Gray: Color Names, Hex, RGB, CMYK Codes

Graphic Design

The color gray comes in a multitude of shades. Many contain traces of white or black, while some have various other colors in them. Let’s look closer at some popular shades of gray with their names, Hex, RGB, and CMYK codes, so you know how to find and incorporate the colors in your designs.

Arsenic is a darker shade of gray that contains some traces of blue.

ArsenicHex #3B444BRGB 59, 68, 75CMYK 21, 9, 0, 71

Ash gray is named to represent the color of ashes.

Ash GrayHex #B2BEB5RGB 178, 190, 181CMYK 6, 0, 5, 25

Battleship gray gets its name from the paint used to rustproof both steel and iron battleships.

Battleship GrayHex #848482RGB 132, 132, 130CMYK 0, 0, 2, 48

Black coral is named aptly after the soft, deep-water corals known as either black coral or thorn coral.

Black CoralHex #54626FRGB 84, 98, 111CMYK 24, 12, 0, 56

Blue gray is a straightforward color representing a standard blue color with heavy traces of gray.

Blue GrayHex #98AFC7RGB 152, 175, 199CMYK 24, 12, 0, 22

Cadet gray has a blue-like tint, and the word was historically used to refer to some military uniforms.

Cadet GrayHex #91A3B0RGB 145, 163, 176CMYK 18, 7, 0, 31

Carbon gray is a darker gray with a slight warm temperature.

Carbon GrayHex #625D5DRGB 98, 93, 93CMYK 0, 5, 5, 62

Charcoal is colored much like its name sake: the dark gray tones of burnt wood.

CharcoalHex #36454FRGB 54, 69, 79CMYK 32, 13, 0, 69

Cinereous color is a warmer shade of gray that is tinged with some copper brown tones.

CinereousHex #98817BRGB 152, 129, 123CMYK 0, 15, 19, 40

Cool gray is closer to a light gray color that’s been mixed with some blue.

Cool GrayHex #9090C0RGB 144, 144, 192CMYK 25, 25, 0, 25

Dark gray color is simply light gray with a darker tint applied.

Dark GrayHex #A9A9A9RGB 169, 169, 169CMYK 0, 0, 0, 34

Davy’s gray is a deeper, darker gray color typically made from slate, carbon black, and iron oxide.

Davy’s GrayHex #555555RGB 85, 85, 85CMYK 0, 0, 0, 67

Deep space sparkle derives its name from outer space, yet the color tone is a bit lighter with bluish or greenish tints.

Deep Space SparkleHex #4A646CRGB 74, 100, 108CMYK 31, 7, 0, 58

Dim gray features darker tints of the common gray color.

Dim GrayHex #696969RGB 105, 105, 105CMYK 0, 0, 0, 59

Gainsboro is a paler tone of gray and it stands as an achromatic color as it lacks any hue.

GainsboroHex #DCDCDCRGB 220, 220, 220CMYK 0, 0, 0, 14

Gray color is a tone that lands right between white and black.

GrayHex #808080RGB 128, 128, 128CMYK 0, 0, 0, 50

Gray cloud is a light gray color that can resemble darker clouds in the sky.

Gray CloudHex #B6B6B4RGB 182, 182, 180CMYK 0, 0, 1, 29

Gray dolphin features a color tone that resembles that of a dolphin, which is where it gets its name from.

Gray DolphinHex #5C5858RGB 92, 88, 88CMYK 0, 4, 4, 64

Gray goose is a deeper gray tone, and the name is a play on the drink known as Grey Goose.

Gray GooseHex #D1D0CERGB 209, 208, 206CMYK 0, 0, 1, 18

Gray-green, also referred to as emerald-gray, is gray with tones of green in it.

Gray-GreenHex #5E716ARGB 94, 113, 106CMYK 17, 0, 6, 56

Gray wolf takes its name from the gray wolves found in North America and Eurasia, and the color tone is generally darker.

Gray WolfHex #504A4BRGB 80, 74, 75CMYK 0, 7, 6, 69

Glaucous is a color that features tints of blue, and its name is typically used on the surface of some plants that are bluish or pale gray in appearance.

GlaucousHex #6082B6RGB 96, 130, 182CMYK 47, 29, 0, 29

Gunmetal is a deep, dark shade of gray with purple or bluish tints.

GunmetalHex #2A3439RGB 42, 52, 57CMYK 26, 9, 0, 78

Jet is a color that’s almost black in appearance, and it shares its name with the similarly colored mineraloid jet.

JetHex #343434RGB 52, 52, 52CMYK 0, 0, 0, 80

Jet gray has heavy tints of blue alongside gray to create a lighter, cooler shade.

Jet GrayHex #616D7ERGB 97, 109, 126CMYK 23, 13, 0, 51

Light gray is a gray color that leans more toward white to create a paler appearance.

Light GrayHex #D3D3D3RGB 211, 211, 211CMYK 0, 0, 0, 17

Light slate gray features some cool tints of blue and is generally on the paler side of slate gray.

Light Slate GrayHex #6D7B8DRGB 109, 123, 141CMYK 23, 13, 0, 45

Marengo is often used to describe wet asphalt due to its blackish gray tone.

MarengoHex #4C5866RGB 76, 88, 102CMYK 25, 14, 0, 60

Medium gray color is slightly lighter than a regular gray tone but darker than light gray.

Medium GrayHex #BEBEBERGB 190, 190, 190CMYK 0, 0, 0, 25

Nevada is a slightly cool tone that’s among the darkest shades of gray.

NevadaHex #666A6DRGB 102, 106, 109CMYK 6, 3, 0, 57

Nickel resembles the color of the metal known as nickel, which it also receives its name from.

NickelHex #727472RGB 114, 116, 114CMYK 2, 0, 2, 55

Old silver color is a tone of silver that is darker and warmer in appearance.

Old SilverHex #848482RGB 132, 132, 130CMYK 0, 0, 2, 48

Outer space gets its name from the dark color of space that may have tints of blue.

Outer SpaceHex #414A4CRGB 65, 74, 76CMYK 14, 3, 0, 70

Rocket metallic is a warm gray that is more purplish in tone.

Rocket MetallicHex #8A7F8DRGB 138, 127, 141CMYK 2, 10, 0, 45

Scorpion color is much like a brownish gray although not quite as warm as the creature it gets its name from.

ScorpionHex #5E5E5ERGB 94, 94, 94CMYK 0, 0, 0, 63

Silver is representative in name and color to the metal silver.

SilverHex #C0C0C0RGB 192, 192, 192CMYK 0, 0, 0, 25

Silver chalice is a softer, more neutral tone of gray.

Silver ChaliceHex #ACACACRGB 172, 172, 172CMYK 0, 0, 0, 33

Slate blue is a cool shade of gray with a heavy blue tint.

Slate BlueHex #737CA1RGB 115, 124, 161CMYK 29, 23, 0, 37

Slate gray has flecks of blue, but tends to be darker in tone.

Slate GrayHex #657383RGB 101, 115, 131CMYK 23, 12, 0, 49

Smoke color is a shade of gray with a bit of green in it. It slightly leans closer to the darker end of the spectrum.

SmokeHex #738276RGB 115, 130, 118CMYK 12, 0, 9, 49

Smokey gray is a gray color that resembles dark smoke.

Smokey GrayHex #726E6DRGB 114, 110, 109CMYK 0, 4, 4, 55

Sonic gray has a neutral color temperature and leans more toward the darker side of gray.

Sonic GrayHex #757575RGB 117, 117, 117CMYK 0, 0, 0, 54

Spanish gray is referred to as gris in the Spanish color dictionary called Guía de coloraciones (Guide to colorations), and it is just slightly off-color of the normal gray tint.

Spanish GrayHex #989898RGB 152, 152, 152CMYK 0, 0, 0, 40

Stone gray is a darker shade of gray that resembles a common stone color.

Stone GrayHex #928E85RGB 146, 142, 133CMYK 0, 3, 9, 43

Stormcloud color takes its name from the dark tint that storm clouds have.

StormcloudHex #4F666ARGB 79, 102, 106CMYK 25, 4, 0, 58

Taupe gray features tints of brown, but leans far more to the lighter end of the spectrum.

Taupe GrayHex #8B8589RGB 139, 133, 137CMYK 0, 4, 1, 45

Timberwolf color is a light gray tint, and it gets its name from the Eastern wolf, otherwise known as the Timber Wolf.

TimberwolfHex #DBD7D2RGB 219, 215, 210 CMYK 0, 2, 4, 14

Onyx color is one of the darkest shades of gray with it heavily resembling the gemstone onyx.

OnyxHex #353839RGB 53, 56, 57CMYK 7, 2, 0, 78

Payne’s gray has bold tints of blue, and it’s named after the painter William Payne.

Payne’s GrayHex #40404FRGB 64, 64, 79CMYK 19, 19, 0, 69

Platinum is a gray-white, paler color that looks much like the metal known as platinum.

PlatinumHex #E5E4E2RGB 229, 228, 226CMYK 0, 0, 1, 10

Pink gray is a shade that resembles an even blend of pink, white, and gray tones.

Pink GrayHex #E7DADARGB 231, 218, 218CMYK 0, 6, 6, 9

Purple gray is a lighter purplish-gray shade with a cooler temperature.

Purple GrayHex #A7A6BARGB 167, 166, 186CMYK 10, 11, 0, 27

Rose quartz is a grayer shade that stems from the rose color.

Rose QuartzHex #AA98A9RGB 170, 152, 169CMYK 0, 11, 1, 33

Vampire gray is also referred to as just “vampire”, and it is a darker, warmer shade that tends to represent the Halloween season.

Vampire GrayHex #565051RGB 86, 80, 81CMYK 0, 7, 6, 66

White smoke is one of the lightest shades of gray and a few tones darker than pure white.

White SmokeHex #F5F5F5RGB 245, 245, 245CMYK 0, 0, 0, 4

Xanadu is a color that’s closer to greenish-gray, and its name comes from a plant known as Philodendron.

XanaduHex #738678RGB 115, 134, 120CMYK 14, 0, 10, 47

Just like its name suggests, Bright Gray is a gray shade with a lot of white. It is especially good as a wall color if you want something that has a slightly cool energy without being overly dark. Bright Gray is also a pleasant, pale neutral that is a great color for cardstock or regular paper.

Bright GrayHex #E8E9EBRGB 232, 233, 235CMYK 1, 1, 0, 8

This pleasant and relatively pale shade of gray is a bit darker than Bright Gray. It’s a bit warmer than many shades of gray and it has more yellow than it does cyan. X11 Gray makes a good backdrop color, but it also works well with assorted neutrals, especially somewhat warmer ones like khaki.

X11 GrayHex #BBBCB6RGB 187, 188, 182CMYK 1, 0, 3, 26

Dark Silver is a color with a very accurate name. It’s roughly between the color of silver and the color of tarnish. It’s an unusual shade that has no cyan, but it does have both yellow and magenta. That combination makes it a warmer gray with a reddish undertone. It isn’t quite rose gray, but it does have a bit of a rosy undertone.

Dark SilverHex #746D69RGB 116, 109, 105CMYK 0, 6, 9, 55

The word “pastel” might make you think of calm, muted colors. But Pastel Gray is more reminiscent of bright, shining silver. It has a very small amount of yellow, so there’s just a hint of warmth. Pastel Gray is a good color choice if you’re looking for a shade of gray that’s close to being white.

Pastel GrayHex #CCCDC6RGB 204, 205, 198CMYK 0, 0, 3, 20

As a neutral color, gray looks great when it’s infused with little hints of other colors. Dusty Gray is a light gray shade that has a touch of lavender. It’s a cool gray that looks a lot like the color of lilac blossoms after dusk.

Dusty GrayHex #B29CA2RGB 178, 156, 162CMYK 0, 12, 9, 30

Mist is probably one of the first things you picture when you imagine gray things in the natural world. And just like mist you typically see in an early morning sky, Misty Gray has a touch of blue. It looks especially nice as a wall color if you can’t decide whether you want to be surrounded by gray or blue.

Misty GrayHex #BCC2C2RGB 188, 194, 194CMYK 3, 0, 0, 24

You can’t really see luster through a computer screen, but White Gray has a look that is almost pearlescent. It’s pale enough that it works beautifully as an alternative to white in traditional black and white patterns. This combination gives patterns a slightly cooler, decidedly modern look.

White GrayHex #F2F3F5RGB 242, 243, 245CMYK 1, 1, 0, 4

Most shades of gray have a little bit of a vintage vibe about them. The color probably makes you think of black and white photos. If you’re creating a grayscale design, Vintage Gray gives a beautiful, old-world vibe alongside Spanish Gray, its complementary color. It’s a deep, present shade that really makes a statement, especially when it’s compared to much paler grays.

Vintage GrayHex #989692RGB 152, 150, 146CMYK 0, 1, 4, 40

Just like its name suggests, Gentle Gray is a soft, mild shade of gray that’s similar to the color of the paler lines on heather gray fabric. And when it comes to RGB and CMYK values, it is one of the more balanced colors on the list. Its values for blue, red, and green are all equal. And of the CMYK values, it only has a numerical value for K.

Gentle GrayHex #DADADARGB 218, 218, 218CMYK 0, 0, 0, 15

Just like the old, rotting flesh on a zombie, Zombie Gray has a greenish undertone. However, the amount of green isn’t excessive, and it isn’t necessarily unpleasant. Zombie Gray is darker and more intense than many cool grays on the list. It’s dark enough to be used in color patterns where it contrasts with white or very pale gray shades.

Zombie GrayHex #63645ERGB 99, 100, 94CMYK 1, 0, 6, 61

Lavender and gray are two colors that look great together, and Lavender Gray is a lovely, gentle mixture of the two. Its complementary color is the soft, pearl-like Pastel Gray. These two colors look especially nice together, and Lavender Gray also works well alongside ivory and other shades of off-white.

Lavender GrayHex #C4C3D0RGB 196, 195, 208CMYK 6, 6, 0, 18

Perfect Gray’s name fits. It’s an average, medium gray that is an exceptionally balanced shade. This color has a large amount of black without any influence of yellow, magenta, or cyan. Green, blue, and red are all the value of 161.

Perfect GrayHex #A1A1A1RGB 161, 161, 161CMYK 0, 0, 0, 37

The graphite lead of a pencil is a familiar sight, and this dark, bluish shade of gray does it justice. Graphite Gray has an impressive presence, and it looks great as the darkest shade in a grayscale palette. Or, if you prefer a statement-making wall color, it’s an elegant and non-traditional choice.

Graphite GrayHex #4B4E53RGB 75, 78, 83CMYK 10, 6, 0, 67

Rustic shades of neutrals can add a certain charm to a whole range of projects. And Rustic Gray is no exception. This shade looks a lot like weathered wood that has been whitewashed. It has a bit of a silvery glow about it. Try combining it with deep navy blue or black for an understated yet elegant look.

Rustic GrayHex #A6ABA5RGB 166, 171, 165CMYK 3, 0, 4, 33

This dignified, pewter-like gray has a hint of a green undertone. It looks good with brownish shades of gray, as its complementary color is Taupe Gray. Like many similar shades, Echo also works well beside quiet yet saturated cool colors like navy and hunter green.

EchoHex #898D86RGB 137, 141, 134CMYK 3, 0, 5, 45

Window Gray is a somewhat strange name for a gray shade. After all, most people think of clear glass when they picture windows. It can be found on the Classic list curated by RAL, a European color-matching system that is a lot like Pantone. Window Gray is a pleasant, medium gray that works beautifully in patterns with various shades of blue.

Window GrayHex #989EA1RGB 152, 158, 161CMYK 6, 2, 0, 37

Silk Gray is another gray variant that can be found on the RAL Classic list. As a soft, whitish gray, it’s close to the color of a shiny, off-white pillow. Silk Gray is a warm-leaning gray that contrasts beautifully with the cooler Metallic Silver, its complementary color.

Silk GrayHex #B6B3A8RGB 182, 179, 168CMYK 0, 2, 8, 29

If your project requires a cool-leaning gray shade that’s more intense than most, Light Gunmetal is the ideal choice. It looks somewhat like a mixture of cobalt and silver. Not surprisingly, it has a fairly large amount of both blue and black. Light Gunmetal is especially striking as a dark background for white text.

Light GunmetalHex #344148RGB 52, 65, 72CMYK 28, 10, 0, 72

Silver Pink is essentially the cool counterpart to rose gold and similar shades. It looks a little like Dusty Rose. Silver Pink is a popular interior design color, and it is included in the Plochere system of colors.

Silver PinkHex #C4AEADRGB 196, 174, 173CMYK 0, 11, 12, 23

Of course, you can’t really show metallic colors on the screen. But matte colors like this one are designed to look like the opposite. They are somewhat flat and dull. Matte Silver is a little dull, but its touch of blue stops it from being overly boring. It’s an understated, modern gray that adds the finishing touch to all sorts of projects.

Matte SilverHex #A5A5A8RGB 165, 165, 168CMYK 2, 2, 0, 34

If you like uncommon shades of gray, Rhythm is certainly worth checking out. It’s hard to tell at first glance if this color is a type of blue, gray, or purple. But technically, Rhythm is considered to be a shade of gray with elements of blue and purple. It’s part of the list of colors published by Resene, a color matching system like Pantone that is especially popular in Australia and New Zealand.

RhythmHex #777696RGB 119, 118, 150CMYK 21, 21, 0, 41

Silver’s metallic luster is one of the most beautiful gray things in nature, and Pure Silver gets close to capturing it. This relatively faint gray is a good substitute for white if you’re looking for an original alternative. Since Pure Silver is a cool yet pale gray, it has a calming energy that makes it good for incorporating into your living space.

Pure SilverHex #C3C7C7RGB 195, 199, 199CMYK 2, 0, 0, 22

While charcoal itself is usually black, the color charcoal typically describes a very dark gray. Dark Charcoal finds the middle ground between gray and black, and it has a great balance of color as well. Its values for green, red, and blue are the same. It also has a much higher black (K) value than most grays.

Dark CharcoalHex #333333RGB 51, 51, 51CMYK 0, 0, 0, 80

As grays go, Best Gray is a fairly energetic hue. It’s pale enough to be closer to white than it is to black. It also has more yellow than cyan. Best Gray is just about the color of a rain cloud, and as you may have guessed from the name, it’s a versatile and classic shade.

Best GrayHex #969892RGB 150, 152, 146CMYK 1, 0, 4, 40

Agreeable Gray is a pleasant, rosy gray shade that has some warmth to it. Its reddish undertones give it a little more energy than most cooler gray shades. Its classic, slightly dusty appearance looks good with ivory and other warm-leaning off-white shades.

Agreeable GrayHex #D1CBC1RGB 209, 203, 193CMYK 0, 3, 8, 18

This cool, denim-like gray gets its name from the imposing gray towers of Oxford University. Thanks to the presence of black and cyan, this gray shade has a bluish appearance close to that of water on a cloudy day. Oxford Gray is an especially useful gray color for clothing.

Oxford GrayHex #8391A1RGB 131, 145, 161CMYK 19, 10, 0, 37

The soft, dignified shine of pewter is more muted than that of silver. And like its namesake, Antique Pewter has a vintage appeal that makes it a great choice for projects that need a medium, cool gray. In an all-gray palette, it offers a pleasing contrast with its complementary color – a warmer shade called Middle Gray.

Antique PewterHex #808992RGB 128, 137, 146CMYK 12, 6, 0, 43

Warm Gray is a unique color that sits somewhere between rose gray and taupe. It creates a dynamic all-neutral palette when paired with gray shades that contain a lot of blue. Alternatively, you also may find that you like diluted versions of Warm Gray. These paler colors have a pinkish hue.

Warm GrayHex #6E6259RGB 110, 98, 89CMYK 0, 11, 19, 57

Shades of blue-gray may be fairly common, but it can be hard to find a shade of gray-green that is pleasing without looking sickly yellow in color. Sage Gray is a soft, alluring gray that splits the difference between a green and a neutral. Since it’s about the color of sagebrush, it’s right at home with reddish shades of tan that look like desert sand.

Sage GrayHex #B5BDA5RGB 181, 189, 165CMYK 4, 0, 13, 26

Dull Gray certainly doesn’t have the most enticing name, but it’s a useful neutral that is close to the color of many gray rocks in nature. Its reddish undertones are readily apparent, but this color still avoids being overly warm or too energetic.

Dull GrayHex #8B837ERGB 139, 131, 126CMYK 0, 6, 9, 45

Rich Gray is an interesting and unique dark gray shade that is essentially a mixture of charcoal, slate, and blue-gray. Since it’s so close to black, it makes a great text color against pale backgrounds. It’s also an excellent border color for stationery, flyers, or cards.

Rich GrayHex #1F2022RGB 31, 32, 34CMYK 9, 6, 0, 87

You’ve heard of Ice Blue, but Ice Gray is an alternative if you’re looking for the same energy in a more neutral shade. It has just a hint of blue, but it’s closer to being a very pale pastel gray. If you need a neutral that manages to be both bright and cool, Ice Gray just might be the right color for your project.

Ice GrayHex #BEC3C6RGB 190, 195, 198CMYK 4, 2, 0, 22

The name of this color indicates that it’s close to the CMYK color model’s version of pure gray. Just as you would expect, Gray CMYK has a very high K value. And since it has just slightly more cyan than magenta, Gray CMYK is just a little cool in nature.

Gray CMYKHex #939598RGB 147, 149, 152CMYK 3, 2, 0, 40

Solid Gray is an average gray shade that works well as a backdrop. Because it’s truly neutral, it also pairs equally well with warm colors, cool colors, and other true neutrals. And because it sits right in between the light grays and the dark grays, it’s a classic and all-purpose color.

Solid GrayHex #979797RGB 151, 151, 151CMYK 0, 0, 0, 41

Electric Gray might seem like a strange color name. After all, electric yellows and greens are usually neon-like colors that seem to radiate energy. Electric Gray isn’t quite that high energy, but it does have an icy, piercing quality that makes it captivating to look at. It makes especially striking patterns on white or slightly off-white backgrounds.

Electric GrayHex #A5ADADRGB 165, 173, 173CMYK 5, 0, 0, 32

This cool, dignified gray is one of the more popular gray paint shades offered by Benjamin Moore. It has a peaceful, almost oceanic blue-green undertone. As a wall color, it offers a welcome departure from your more typical shades of flat, average gray. It does well with baseboards that are painted a cool shade of white. Alternatively, Templeton Gray will be right at home alongside cool, seaglass-like blues and greens.

Templeton GrayHex #788787RGB 120, 135, 135CMYK 11, 0, 0, 47

In real life, chrome is a dazzling metallic color that’s even brighter than silver. But as a color on the screen, Chrome is closer to being a very pale bluish gray. It looks a lot like the faint gray cast of the morning sky. It has a fairly high amount of blue and cyan, but its paleness makes it look just a little icy.

ChromeHex #DBE2E9RGB 219, 226, 233CMYK 6, 3, 0, 9

Depending on the weather, the ocean can look green, blue, gray, or any combination of the three. Sea Gray is the color of the ocean under a cloudy sky. Though it is still a neutral color, it has pronounced blue undertones. It looks good alongside sea green and other cool pastels.

Sea GrayHex #9AA2A4RGB 154, 162, 164CMYK 6, 1, 0, 36

You can’t really see the gloss on a computer screen. But Glossy Gray is a color that is often used for glossy gray paints. Though it’s slightly warmer than average, Glossy Gray is a fairly nondescript color that is a good choice if you need an average-looking gray that doesn’t draw too much attention to itself.

Glossy GrayHex #AFADA9RGB 175, 173, 169CMYK 0, 1, 3, 31

Anvil Gray is both one of the darkest and one of the most balanced gray shades on the list. It has a much higher K value than most of the gray shades listed here. Additionally, if you look at the RGB values, you can see that all values are equal – 33% blue, 33% red, and 33% green.

Anvil GrayHex #6B6B6BRGB 107, 107, 107CMYK 0, 0, 0, 58

This rich, medium-dark gray is an ideal choice if your project requires a gray shade with considerable presence. And though this color is a fairly well-balanced one, it is slightly cooler than it is warm. Because of its cool nature, Chameleon Gray looks good mixed with various shades of blue and blue-gray. But since it does have a decent amount of yellow, this color also has enough warmth to be comfortable among an assortment of warmer shades.

Chameleon GrayHex #686965RGB 104, 105, 101CMYK 1, 0, 4, 59

Cement Gray is close to the color of wet cement, although it is slightly darker. It’s made up of more green than it is red or blue, but the green undertone is not overly pronounced. It’s also a fairly dark gray shade. Try combining this one with various green shades. On its own, it has a businesslike cast, but green surroundings help to bring out its cool energy.

Cement GrayHex #858A7ERGB 133, 138, 126CMYK 4, 0, 9, 46

Steel Gray is probably one of the most commonly-used names used to describe various gray shades. But this particular version gets very close to the actual color of steel. Though it isn’t especially dark, Steel Gray does have a relatively large amount of blue that gives it a somewhat soothing bluish cast.

Steel GrayHex #888B8DRGB 136, 139, 141CMYK 4, 1, 0, 45

This shade of gray gets its name from the Oscar Wilde novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. The book is about a portrait of a man named Dorian Gray. Instead of aging as humans naturally do, Dorian Gray stays looking the same, but the picture of him in the portrait gradually appears older and older.

Dorian GrayHex #ACA79ERGB 172, 167, 158CMYK 0, 3, 8, 33

You’ve heard “gunmetal” and its variants used to describe various colors of gray. By contrast, Gun Smoke is a bit paler and smoky-looking. It’s a darker alternative to Misty Gray and similar colors, and it’s a good choice if you need a cloudy, smoke-like gray that has a little more depth and presence. This color has a good balance of warm and cool.

Gun Smoke GrayHex #8A868ERGB 138, 134, 142CMYK 3, 6, 0, 44

You already know that camouflage comes in a whole range of colors. Tan variants help you blend into desert surroundings while greenish versions work well in forests. For gray or rocky environments, gray to black camouflage shades work well. Camouflage Gray is one of the shades found in this type of camouflage. But even on its own, it’s an interesting color to choose. Though a burst of yellow keeps it from being overly cool, it has a slight green undertone that helps keep it harmonious with natural environments.

Camouflage GrayHex #545851RGB 84, 88, 81CMYK 5, 0, 8, 65

Chances are good that you have at least one item of Fashion Gray clothing in your closet or dresser. This is a color that is very commonly used when making gray socks, shirts, blazers, and more. It’s a fairly light, relatively neutral gray shade that has just a hint of warmth to it. It looks good with most other colors, so it is suitable for use in patterns, too.

Fashion GrayHex #8E8D8CRGB 142, 141, 140CMYK 0, 1, 1, 44

As its name indicates, Neutral Gray is a versatile and neutral color. It looks a bit like Fashion Gray, but it is a bit cooler in nature. It has more blue and green than red. It is peaceful and soothing with a medium amount of presence, and it does especially well when used to make patterns on paler backdrops.

Neutral GrayHex #898E8CRGB 137, 142, 140CMYK 4, 0, 1, 44

There’s a whole wealth of beautiful gray paints out there, and Revere Pewter is one. Offered by Benjamin Moore, this vintage-inspired pewter shade is a lovely, warm, and soft gray. Thanks to its relatively low K value, Revere Pewter is one of the paler shades on the list. Its reddish undertones give it a slightly warm cast, too.

Revere PewterHex #CCC7B9RGB 204, 199, 185CMYK 0, 2, 9, 20

As we saw with Zombie Gray, green undertones aren’t always the most beautiful. But Olive Gray incorporates just a hint of olive green to give it a subdued warmth that makes it look great in just about every application.

Olive GrayHex #A09F8DRGB 160, 159, 141CMYK 0, 1, 12, 37

We’ve already mentioned the fact that you can’t really see a metallic sheen on digital colors. But Metallic Gray is roughly the color of most shiny, silvery gray colors. This color is light, cool, and refreshing. It looks great surrounded by modern-looking blues and other cool colors.

Metallic GrayHex #A8A9ADRGB 168, 169, 173CMYK 3, 2, 0, 32

French Gray is one of the nicest-looking warm grays on our list. It has a pleasant, vintage-tinged woolly appeal. Much of its warmth comes from the fact that it has a lot of yellow – its Y value is almost half of its K value. But some of that warmth is tempered by green and blue undertones, and the color is not too warm or too cool.

French GrayHex #B4B19ARGB 180, 177, 154CMYK 0, 2, 14, 29

Iron is probably one of the best-known gray metals, and this particular shade is a highly versatile one. It has a decent amount of influence from both warm and cool undertones. But on average, Iron is just a bit more warm than it is cool. It has a medium-to-high K value, so it sits pleasantly between light grays and darker shades.

IronHex #A59C94RGB 165, 156, 148CMYK 0, 5, 10, 35

This is another of the cool gray paint colors offered by Benjamin Moore. It’s often described as being “moody,” and it’s easy to see why. This wispy gray has greenish-blue undertones that keep it cool. But since it has a low K value, those undertones are easier to see than they are in darker grays.

Pale SmokeHex #CAD4D1RGB 202, 212, 209CMYK 5, 0, 1, 17

Most of us probably think of bone as being white. But truthfully, most bones are off-white in color. This particular shade is really more gray than it is white. And because it has significant red and yellow undertones, it has an orangey glow that sets it apart from other gray shades. Thanks to its aged look, Bone makes a great background color for signage and stationery.

BoneHex #D7D2CBRGB 215, 210, 203CMYK 0, 2, 6, 16

Heather is one of the color names that is frequently used to describe various shades of gray fabrics. Most heather grays are made up of a mix of dark gray and light gray, so this particular shade strikes a nice medium between them.

HeatherHex #9AA297RGB 154, 162, 151CMYK 5, 0, 7, 36

True Silver is really more of a true dark gray. But nonetheless, this cool shade does a great job taking the place of black in softer color schemes. Its steely cast gives it an authoritative look, but it still manages to not be overly bold.

True SilverHex #8A8D8FRGB 138, 141, 143CMYK 3, 1, 0, 44

You probably don’t think of gray when you imagine a power color. But Power Gray has a remarkable presence. It’s very balanced in terms of warm and cool influences, and it can hold its own against neons and other bright colors. Power Gray works very well when used in workout clothing since it helps bright colors pop.

Power GrayHex #707272RGB 112, 114, 114CMYK 2, 0, 0, 55

Many shades of gray are named after storm-related things. Storm Gray is one that’s especially accurately named. It comes from Pantone’s Textile Cotton eXtended list. It’s a pleasant, neutral gray that pairs well with both warm and cool textile colors.

Storm GrayHex #B5BAB6RGB 181, 186, 182CMYK 3, 0, 2, 27

Ultimate Gray is another member of the Pantone Textile Cotton eXtended list. And along with Illuminating yellow, it’s the Pantone Color of the Year 2021. Like Storm Gray, it is an especially suitable color for sheets, towels, and other household goods. It’s a great choice if you want a standard gray color that’s a bit darker than average.

Ultimate GrayHex #939597RGB 147, 149, 151CMYK 3, 1, 0, 41

This accurately-named color is just about the color of a rhino. It’s a soft gray with some blue-green undertones. Its RGB value for green is more than its red or blue value. Though its K value is somewhat high, Rhino isn’t an especially dark gray shade. It looks good with other greens and cool colors.

RhinoHex #B9BBB6RGB 185, 187, 182CMYK 1, 0, 3, 27

The look of a tranquil harbor at sunrise is a common gray sight in nature. And this relatively pale gray definitely does that sight justice. You might expect a color like this one to be more cool in nature. But as you can see from its values for yellow and red, Harbor Gray is actually somewhat warm.

Harbor GrayHex #C7C6C1RGB 199, 198, 193CMYK 0, 1, 3, 22

The sight of a glossy gray seal leaping out of the water is a memorable one. And this color is virtually the same as the darkest gray on a seal’s body. Though it may be too dark for a wall color, Seal does wonderfully as the background for bright white or off-white text.

SealHex #818380RGB 129, 131, 128CMYK 2, 0, 2, 49

Most new anchors are a bright steel or iron color. But over time, they start to turn much darker. This deep, intense dark gray is the color of an anchor that has begun to weather over time. And thanks to its very cool nature, it contrasts beautifully with loud, bright warm colors.

AnchorHex #3E424BRGB 62, 66, 75CMYK 17, 12, 0, 71

Commercial abalone is beautifully purple-green and iridescent. But this pale, warm gray is the color of the outside of the abalone shell. Even though it’s much less interesting than the interior color, this gray shade makes a peaceful yet energizing wall color. It also looks nice when used for pillows on either pure white or very dark furniture.

AbaloneHex #D6CFC7RGB 214, 207, 199CMYK 0, 3, 7, 16

Finding a fossil is an exciting event, especially if it’s unexpected. However, this particular gray shade is not too exciting. It’s a fairly standard medium gray that is very versatile. Fossil is very slightly more warm than it is cool, and it’s equally at home with warm colors, cool colors, and neutrals.

FossilHex #787276RGB 120, 114, 118CMYK 0, 5, 2, 53

Shiny, luxuriant mink is one of the most popular types of fur in the world. It comes in many colors, but this lovely gray shade is a common color of gray mink. It is warm and slightly dusty in nature, and it looks especially nice with both copper and pale pink.

MinkHex #888078RGB 136, 128, 120CMYK 0, 6, 12, 47

You might have heard of rainbow trout, but even these colorful fish do have some level of gray in their scales. This soft gray has an equal amount of red and green undertones. That’s fitting as most rainbow trout have some level of pink and green on their sides.

TroutHex #979788RGB 151, 151, 136CMYK 0, 0, 10, 41

This is a rosy, relatively warm gray shade with fairly prominent red undertones. It is about the color of a stormy sky right before the lightning starts. Thunder is a medium-dark shade with a K value of 26. Its somewhat high degree of yellow and green may mean it’s not quite right for all applications, but it’s nonetheless a great color to go with greens and similar shades.

ThunderHex #BDB7ABRGB 189, 183, 171CMYK 0, 3, 10, 26

This deep yet energetic darker gray is just about the color of the world if you’re wearing sunglasses. It’s a paint color offered by Behr. Shades On has equal amounts of red, blue, and green. It also has one of the highest K values of the colors that we’ve mentioned here.

Shades OnHex #606060RGB 96, 96, 96CMYK 0, 0, 0, 62

Real lava is a fiery reddish orange. After all, it is molten rock that flows over the ground. But when it cools, it sometimes becomes roughly this color. Lava is a great color choice if your project needs a pale, ash-like gray. It has slightly more blue and cyan than other colors, so it is a bit cool without becoming icy.

LavaHex #808588RGB 128, 133, 136CMYK 6, 2, 0, 47

Stone animals are somewhat common in gardens around the world. And if you want to add a touch of majesty to yours, a stone eagle is a great addition. Most stone animals like this one are very pale, making Stone Eagle a highly accurate color. It is pale and soft, and it looks especially good beside powder or pastel blues.

Stone EagleHex #D8D9DARGB 216, 217, 218CMYK 1, 0, 0, 15

If you like cooler colors with some real energy, Ice Cube is worth checking out. It’s a paint color offered by Sherwin Williams. As a wall color, Ice Cube looks very good with cool white ceilings and baseboards.

Ice CubeHex #E3E4E0RGB 227, 228, 224CMYK 0, 0, 2, 11

This color is close to that of a dolphin, although it’s darker than some. Porpoise is somewhat between navy and medium gray, making it a versatile shade that fits into a variety of color schemes. You can work it into a neutral palette with shades of brown or shades of gray. Alternatively, it looks nice alongside warmer jewel tones.

PorpoiseHex #4D4D5CRGB 77, 77, 92CMYK 16, 16, 0, 64

Though more blue than natural flint, Flint is nonetheless an intriguing color. Against yellow, it creates a high-energy contrast. But because it sits between blue and gray shades, Flint also works beautifully in gradient palettes going from gray to blue.

FlintHex #7E7D9CRGB 126, 125, 156CMYK 19, 20, 0, 39

Most people think of doves as being white, but they actually come in many different species. This color is like that of a mourning dove, a gray-brown wild bird with a distinctive, sad call. Unlike many of the grays on the list, this one has a purplish tint to it.

DoveHex #7C6E7FRGB 124, 110, 127CMYK 2, 13, 0, 50

Gray Owl is another subtle gray paint color offered by Benjamin Moore. It’s a great alternative to white paint in an office environment, but it also lends a cool, modern look to just about any living space.

Gray OwlHex #D5D5CDRGB 213, 213, 205CMYK 0, 0, 4, 16

Though it’s much more blue than most silver-hued coins, Coin is a pretty gray shade that is a little like Lavender Gray and a little like Blue Gray. It’s certainly different, and it can make a dramatic statement as a wall color. Alternatively, it’s a useful and harmonious accent color for rooms with pale, demure color schemes.

CoinHex #9897A9RGB 152, 151, 169CMYK 10, 11, 0, 34

This unique color is certainly darker than most fog, but it is close to the color of fog as the sun begins to set. It has a distinctly purple look, making it one of the less common gray shades out there. It looks good alongside other shades of bluish gray. But for an odd pop of color, try pairing it with yellow, purple’s complementary color.

FogHex #655967RGB 101, 89, 103CMYK 2, 14, 0, 60

The color gray comes in many different energies. One of the most common ones is a calm, collected energy. Laid Back Gray certainly captures this energy. It’s a Behr paint color, and it makes a quiet, relaxed room color if you’re looking for a calm neutral.

Laid Back GrayHex #B4AFA9RGB 180, 175, 169CMYK 0, 3, 6, 29

As you can see, you won’t run out of shades of gray anytime soon. Look through this list, find your favorite gray, and use it to transform your design into a work of art. You’ll soon discover that there are several colors that compliment gray shades nicely.

These colors can also be found in nature. Here’s a visual list of things that are gray.