Charcoal Hex Code — #36454F

RGB, HSL, and CMYK values for Charcoal.

Last updated: April 6, 2026

Charcoal Color Values

Format	Value
HEX	#36454F
RGB	rgb(54, 69, 79)
HSL	hsl(204, 19%, 26%)
CMYK	cmyk(32%, 13%, 0%, 69%)

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About Charcoal

Color psychology: Sophistication, authority.

Charcoal (#36454F) is a dark shade of gray with a hue angle of 204° on the color wheel, 19% saturation, and 26% lightness. It's commonly used in web design, graphic design, and branding where sophistication, authority are desired associations.

In color theory, Charcoal sits in the cool section of the spectrum. Its low saturation creates a muted, understated tone — great for backgrounds, borders, and subtle UI elements.

When to Use Charcoal in Design

Web Design

Use Charcoal for headings, links, or accent elements against light backgrounds. Dark colors like this provide strong contrast and draw the eye to important content.

Branding & Logo

Charcoal conveys sophistication, authority — consider it for brands that want to project these qualities. Test it at small sizes (favicon, social avatar) to ensure it remains recognizable.

Print Design

Use the CMYK values (C:32% M:13% Y:0% K:69%) for accurate print reproduction in brochures, business cards, and packaging. Request a physical proof — screen colors often appear more vibrant than their printed equivalents.

UI / UX Design

Dark colors like Charcoal are effective for primary buttons, navigation bars, and text. Use a lighter tint (increase HSL lightness to 90%+) for hover backgrounds.

How to Use Charcoal in CSS

/* Using HEX */
color: #36454F;
background-color: #36454F;

/* Using RGB */
color: rgb(54, 69, 79);

/* Using HSL — best for creating variations */
color: hsl(204, 19%, 26%);

/* Transparent overlay (50% opacity) */
background-color: rgba(54, 69, 79, 0.5);

/* Lighter variant for hover states */
background-color: hsl(204, 19%, 36%);

/* Darker variant for active states */
background-color: hsl(204, 19%, 16%);

HSL is the most flexible format for creating color systems. By adjusting the lightness value, you can generate an entire shade scale from Charcoal without changing its core hue or saturation.

Colors That Go With Charcoal

Complementary

Analogous

Triadic

Similar Shades of Gray

Steel

#71797E

Light Slate Gray

#778899

Slate Gray

#708090

Gunmetal

#2C3539

Marengo

#4C5866

Dark Slate Gray

#2F4F4F

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for Charcoal?

The hex color code for Charcoal is #36454F. In CSS, apply it as text color with color: #36454F;, as a background with background-color: #36454F;, or as a border with border-color: #36454F;. Hex is the most widely used color notation on the web because it is compact, supported by every browser, and easy to copy between design tools like Figma, Photoshop, and code editors.

What is Charcoal in RGB and when should I use RGB?

Charcoal in RGB is rgb(54, 69, 79), where Red=54, Green=69, and Blue=79 on a 0-255 scale. Use RGB when you need transparency — rgba(54, 69, 79, 0.5) creates a 50% transparent version. RGB is also the native format for HTML canvas, WebGL, and JavaScript image manipulation, since each channel represents the intensity of that primary light color on screen displays.

How to use Charcoal in CSS with different color formats?

Charcoal can be applied in CSS using multiple formats: (1) Hex: color: #36454F; — most compact and widely used. (2) RGB: color: rgb(54, 69, 79); — useful when calculating colors dynamically in JavaScript. (3) HSL: color: hsl(204, 19%, 26%); — best for creating variations, since adjusting lightness produces lighter or darker shades while keeping the same hue. (4) With transparency: rgba(54, 69, 79, 0.8); or hsla(204, 19%, 26%, 0.8); for 80% opacity overlays.

What is the HSL value of Charcoal and why is HSL useful for designers?

Charcoal in HSL is hsl(204, 19%, 26%). HSL stands for Hue (204 degrees on the color wheel), Saturation (19% color intensity), and Lightness (26% brightness). HSL is the most intuitive format for designers because you can create harmonious palettes by rotating the hue, generate hover effects by increasing lightness by 10%, and desaturate colors by reducing the S value. This makes Charcoal a dark, muted cool-toned color.

What is the CMYK value of Charcoal for print design?

Charcoal in CMYK is C:32% M:13% Y:0% K:69%. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the standard color model for professional printing — business cards, brochures, merchandise, and packaging. When designing for print in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, use these exact CMYK values to ensure accurate color reproduction. Screen colors (RGB) often appear more vibrant than their printed CMYK equivalents, so always request a physical proof for brand-critical materials.

What colors pair well with Charcoal in design projects?

Gray is the ultimate neutral — it pairs with every color. Match warm grays with warm palettes and cool grays with cool palettes. Gray backgrounds let accent colors stand out prominently.

Is Charcoal (#36454F) accessible for web design and WCAG compliant?

Gray text is the most common accessibility failure on the web. For body text, stick to #595959 or darker on white. For large headings (18px+ bold), #767676 is the lightest acceptable gray. For Charcoal specifically: as a dark shade (lightness: 26%), it can work as a text color on light backgrounds, but verify the exact contrast ratio using a contrast checker tool. WCAG 2.1 requires a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18px+ bold or 24px+ regular).

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Written by

Tamanna Tasnim

Senior Full Stack Developer

ToolsContainerDhaka, Bangladesh5+ years experiencetasnim@toolscontainer.com www.toolscontainer.com

Full-stack developer with deep expertise in data formats, APIs, and developer tooling. Writes in-depth technical comparisons and conversion guides backed by hands-on engineering experience across modern web stacks.

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