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White Smoke Hex Code — #F5F5F5

RGB, HSL, and CMYK values for White Smoke.

Last updated: April 6, 2026

White Smoke Color Values

FormatValue
HEX#F5F5F5
RGBrgb(245, 245, 245)
HSLhsl(0, 0%, 96%)
CMYKcmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 4%)
Want to explore more shades? Use our Color Converter

About White Smoke

Color psychology: Softness, simplicity.

White Smoke (#F5F5F5) is a light shade of white with a hue angle of 0° on the color wheel, 0% saturation, and 96% lightness. It's commonly used in web design, graphic design, and branding where softness, simplicity are desired associations.

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

When to Use White Smoke in Design

Web Design

Use White Smoke as a background color with dark text overlay. Light colors like this create open, airy layouts that reduce visual fatigue for content-heavy pages.

Branding & Logo

White Smoke conveys softness, simplicity — 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:0% M:0% Y:0% K:4%) 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

Light colors like White Smoke work well for card backgrounds, section dividers, and hover states. Pair with a darker variant for active/selected states.

How to Use White Smoke in CSS

/* Using HEX */
color: #F5F5F5;
background-color: #F5F5F5;

/* Using RGB */
color: rgb(245, 245, 245);

/* Using HSL — best for creating variations */
color: hsl(0, 0%, 96%);

/* Transparent overlay (50% opacity) */
background-color: rgba(245, 245, 245, 0.5);

/* Lighter variant for hover states */
background-color: hsl(0, 0%, 95%);

/* Darker variant for active states */
background-color: hsl(0, 0%, 86%);

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

Colors That Go With White Smoke

Complementary

Analogous

Triadic

Similar Shades of White

White

#FFFFFF

Snow

#FFFAFA

Seashell

#FFF5EE

Linen

#FAF0E6

Antique White

#FAEBD7

Old Lace

#FDF5E6

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for White Smoke?
The hex color code for White Smoke is #F5F5F5. In CSS, apply it as text color with color: #F5F5F5;, as a background with background-color: #F5F5F5;, or as a border with border-color: #F5F5F5;. 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 White Smoke in RGB and when should I use RGB?
White Smoke in RGB is rgb(245, 245, 245), where Red=245, Green=245, and Blue=245 on a 0-255 scale. Use RGB when you need transparency — rgba(245, 245, 245, 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 White Smoke in CSS with different color formats?
White Smoke can be applied in CSS using multiple formats: (1) Hex: color: #F5F5F5; — most compact and widely used. (2) RGB: color: rgb(245, 245, 245); — useful when calculating colors dynamically in JavaScript. (3) HSL: color: hsl(0, 0%, 96%); — best for creating variations, since adjusting lightness produces lighter or darker shades while keeping the same hue. (4) With transparency: rgba(245, 245, 245, 0.8); or hsla(0, 0%, 96%, 0.8); for 80% opacity overlays.
What is the HSL value of White Smoke and why is HSL useful for designers?
White Smoke in HSL is hsl(0, 0%, 96%). HSL stands for Hue (0 degrees on the color wheel), Saturation (0% color intensity), and Lightness (96% 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 White Smoke a light, muted warm-toned color.
What is the CMYK value of White Smoke for print design?
White Smoke in CMYK is C:0% M:0% Y:0% K:4%. 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 White Smoke in design projects?
White provides maximum breathing room and pairs with any color. Use off-whites (#F8F9FA, #FAFAFA) for backgrounds to reduce harsh contrast while maintaining a clean look.
Is White Smoke (#F5F5F5) accessible for web design and WCAG compliant?
White backgrounds work well with most dark text colors. For text on white, maintain at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio (WCAG AA). Pure white with pure black can cause eye strain for extended reading. For White Smoke specifically: as a light shade (lightness: 96%), it works best as a background color with dark text overlaid, or as a decorative accent. Avoid using it as text color on white backgrounds since the contrast ratio is likely insufficient. 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.comwww.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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