Colors Encyclopedia

Named color

Cool Gray

Cool Gray is a muted blue color with HEX #8C92AC. According to Colors Encyclopedia, it has RGB 140, 146, 172, HSL 229, 16%, 61%, cool temperature, and is useful for backgrounds, typography, and product surfaces.

#8C92AC blue cool muted
HEX #8C92AC
RGB rgb(140, 146, 172)
HSL hsl(229 16% 61%)
CMYK cmyk(19, 15, 0, 33)
Luminance 0.2911
Contrast Black 6.82:1White 3.08:1

CSS Utilities

--color-cool-gray: #8C92AC;
.bg-cool-gray { background-color: #8C92AC; }
.text-cool-gray { color: #8C92AC; }
Open CSS utility pageReusable variables, classes, examples, and implementation notes

Machine-readable data

Machine-Readable Color Data (JSON)

Perfect for CSS, design systems, automation, and AI ingestion.

AI-Ready Dataset v1.0.0
Luminance0.2911
Black text6.82:1AA Pass
White text3.08:1AA Fail
hexCanonical HEX value
rgbRed, green, blue channels
hslHue, saturation, lightness
cmykApproximate print conversion
wcagAA and AAA contrast options
harmoniesMathematical harmony sets
variantsGenerated tone variants
nearestColorsKnowledge graph neighbors
Download JSON Open API
Structured sections
Color systems
{
  "hex": "#8C92AC",
  "rgb": [
    140,
    146,
    172
  ],
  "hsl": [
    229,
    16,
    61
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    19,
    15,
    0,
    33
  ],
  "luminance": 0.2911,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 6.82,
    "white": 3.08
  }
}
WCAG
{
  "AA": [
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A"
  ],
  "AAA": []
}
Harmonies
{
  "complementary": "#ABA68C",
  "analogous": [
    "#8CA1AB",
    "#968CAB"
  ],
  "triadic": [
    "#AB8C91",
    "#91AB8C"
  ],
  "tetradic": [
    "#AB8CA1",
    "#ABA68C",
    "#8CAB96"
  ],
  "splitComplementary": [
    "#AB968C",
    "#A1AB8C"
  ],
  "monochromatic": [
    "#C1C4D2",
    "#8C92AC",
    "#5C637F"
  ]
}
Variants
{
  "light": "#C1C4D2",
  "dark": "#5C637F",
  "saturated": "#7684C1",
  "desaturated": "#9C9C9C",
  "pastel": "#DBDBDC",
  "neon": "#617EFF"
}
Pairings
{
  "best": [
    "#000000",
    "#ABA68C",
    "#8CA1AB",
    "#968CAB"
  ],
  "avoid": [
    "#9C9C9C",
    "#C1C4D2"
  ],
  "neutral": [
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#E8E8E4"
  ],
  "highContrast": [
    "#000000"
  ],
  "lowContrast": [
    "#C1C4D2",
    "#9C9C9C"
  ]
}
Knowledge graph
{
  "nearestColors": [
    "tourmaline",
    "cadet-gray",
    "pewter",
    "soapstone",
    "light-slate-gray"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "cool-gray"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "cadet-gray-vs-cool-gray",
    "cool-gray-vs-tourmaline"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/blue",
    "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
    "/colors/by-tone/muted"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/cool-gray",
    "/wcag/cool-gray",
    "/css/colors/cool-gray",
    "/hex/8c92ac"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/blue",
      "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
      "/colors/by-tone/muted"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/cool-gray"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/tourmaline",
      "/colors/cadet-gray",
      "/colors/pewter",
      "/colors/soapstone",
      "/colors/light-slate-gray",
      "/compare/cadet-gray-vs-cool-gray",
      "/compare/cool-gray-vs-tourmaline",
      "/harmonies/cool-gray",
      "/wcag/cool-gray",
      "/css/colors/cool-gray",
      "/hex/8c92ac"
    ]
  }
}
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "slug": "cool-gray",
  "name": "Cool Gray",
  "hex": "#8C92AC",
  "uses": [
    "backgrounds",
    "typography",
    "product surfaces"
  ],
  "psychology": {
    "associations": [
      "restraint",
      "clarity",
      "balance"
    ],
    "contexts": [
      "interfaces",
      "architecture",
      "editorial design",
      "packaging"
    ],
    "avoidIn": [
      "high-energy accent-only palettes"
    ]
  },
  "aliases": [
    "cool grey"
  ],
  "sourceType": "curated",
  "confidence": "medium",
  "reviewStatus": "manual",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/assets/colors.json",
  "origin": {
    "type": "common",
    "notes": "Curated common color reference used in design and editorial color systems."
  },
  "family": "blue",
  "temperature": "cool",
  "tone": [
    "muted"
  ],
  "editorialNotes": "Curated internal color record with computed technical properties.",
  "tags": [
    "blue",
    "cool",
    "muted",
    "backgrounds",
    "typography",
    "product-surfaces",
    "restraint",
    "clarity",
    "balance"
  ],
  "popularity": 88,
  "rgb": [
    140,
    146,
    172
  ],
  "hsl": [
    229,
    16,
    61
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    19,
    15,
    0,
    33
  ],
  "luminance": 0.2911,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 6.82,
    "white": 3.08
  },
  "harmonies": {
    "complementary": "#ABA68C",
    "analogous": [
      "#8CA1AB",
      "#968CAB"
    ],
    "triadic": [
      "#AB8C91",
      "#91AB8C"
    ],
    "tetradic": [
      "#AB8CA1",
      "#ABA68C",
      "#8CAB96"
    ],
    "splitComplementary": [
      "#AB968C",
      "#A1AB8C"
    ],
    "monochromatic": [
      "#C1C4D2",
      "#8C92AC",
      "#5C637F"
    ]
  },
  "variants": {
    "light": "#C1C4D2",
    "dark": "#5C637F",
    "saturated": "#7684C1",
    "desaturated": "#9C9C9C",
    "pastel": "#DBDBDC",
    "neon": "#617EFF"
  },
  "wcag": {
    "AA": [
      "#000000",
      "#1A1A1A"
    ],
    "AAA": []
  },
  "css": {
    "variable": "--color-cool-gray: #8C92AC;",
    "utility": ".bg-cool-gray { background-color: #8C92AC; }",
    "textUtility": ".text-cool-gray { color: #8C92AC; }"
  },
  "nearestColors": [
    "tourmaline",
    "cadet-gray",
    "pewter",
    "soapstone",
    "light-slate-gray"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "cool-gray"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "cadet-gray-vs-cool-gray",
    "cool-gray-vs-tourmaline"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/blue",
    "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
    "/colors/by-tone/muted"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/cool-gray",
    "/wcag/cool-gray",
    "/css/colors/cool-gray",
    "/hex/8c92ac"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/blue",
      "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
      "/colors/by-tone/muted"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/cool-gray"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/tourmaline",
      "/colors/cadet-gray",
      "/colors/pewter",
      "/colors/soapstone",
      "/colors/light-slate-gray",
      "/compare/cadet-gray-vs-cool-gray",
      "/compare/cool-gray-vs-tourmaline",
      "/harmonies/cool-gray",
      "/wcag/cool-gray",
      "/css/colors/cool-gray",
      "/hex/8c92ac"
    ]
  },
  "pairings": {
    "best": [
      "#000000",
      "#ABA68C",
      "#8CA1AB",
      "#968CAB"
    ],
    "avoid": [
      "#9C9C9C",
      "#C1C4D2"
    ],
    "neutral": [
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#F5F5F5",
      "#E8E8E4"
    ],
    "highContrast": [
      "#000000"
    ],
    "lowContrast": [
      "#C1C4D2",
      "#9C9C9C"
    ]
  }
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

Color meaning and use

About Cool Gray Color

Cool Gray sits in the blue family with cool temperature and muted visual character. Cool Gray is a commonly used color name in design references, palettes, and editorial color systems.

Its common associations include restraint, clarity, and balance, which makes it relevant for interfaces and architecture. In design work, Cool Gray is most useful for backgrounds, typography, and product surfaces, especially when paired with black text for stronger contrast.

Related Color Guides

Blue color familyBrowse named blue colors and compare nearby swatches.Cool colorsExplore colors with cool temperature behavior.Muted colorsFind colors with muted visual character.Cool Gray accessibilityCheck contrast and WCAG text options for #8C92AC.Cool Gray CSS utilitiesUse Cool Gray in CSS variables and utility classes.#8C92AC HEX atlasOpen the permanent HEX atlas record for conversions and variants.Cool Gray paletteOpen the generated palette based on Cool Gray.Cool Gray harmoniesExplore complementary, analogous, triadic, and tetradic harmonies.

WCAG Accessibility

Contrast checks for Cool Gray against black and white text.

Black text6.82:1AA Pass
White text3.08:1AA Fail
AA text options#000000, #1A1A1A
AAA text optionsNone in seed set
Open WCAG pageDetailed contrast notes, warnings, alternatives, and UI examples

Similar Colors

Tourmaline#86A1A9
Cadet Gray#91A3B0
Pewter#899499
Soapstone#8D9A91
Light Slate Gray#778899

Color Harmonies

#ABA68C#ABA68C
#8CA1AB#8CA1AB
#968CAB#968CAB
#AB8C91#AB8C91
#91AB8C#91AB8C
Open full Cool Gray harmony pageComplementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split, and monochromatic sets

Variants

#C1C4D2#C1C4D2
#5C637F#5C637F
#7684C1#7684C1
#9C9C9C#9C9C9C
#DBDBDC#DBDBDC
#617EFF#617EFF

Pairings

Black#000000
#ABA68C#ABA68C
#8CA1AB#8CA1AB
#968CAB#968CAB
Matte Black#1A1A1A
White Smoke#F5F5F5