Charcoal

A very dark grey. Softer than black and the working dark of most modern palettes.

Charcoal, the usual valueGrey
#36393D
61 charcoals in the library

Pick any swatch to see its codes, its contrast and the palette it comes from.

01Put it to work

Can you read text on it?
White text looks like thisVery easy to read
Fine for any text, even small print. Contrast 11.6 to 1
Black text looks like thisHard to read
Avoid for text. Use it for shapes and backgrounds instead. Contrast 1.7 to 1

White text reads better here. The contrast number compares how light the text is with how light the colour behind it is. It runs from 1, where the text disappears, to 21, black on white. The web accessibility standard asks for at least 4.5 for normal text and 3 for big headlines.

Pick a swatch above to see it in its own palette, next to the colours it was chosen to sit with.

02Tints and shades

A ramp from 50 to 950 around #36393D, in equal perceptual steps, for backgrounds, borders and hover states. Click a step to copy it.

03107 palettes with charcoal

PhotorealismPhotorealismClay StyleClay StyleVictorianVictorianWinter LightImpressionismAction BlackAbstract ExpressionismVinylMusicCinematographyCinematographyBleach BypassCinematographySculptureSculptureGlass TowerArchitectureExposed ConcreteArchitectureCubismCubismAnalyticalCubismBerlin ConcreteGraffiti / Street ArtDrawing / SketchDrawing / SketchCharcoal StudyDrawing / SketchNoir RunwayFashion DesignDeconstructed TailoringDeconstructed TailoringContemporary StagePerforming ArtsMixed MediaMixed MediaDocumentary PhotographyDocumentary PhotographyPortrait PhotographyPortrait PhotographyARPANETWeb 1.0Industrial ChromeChromecore

04The styles that use it

Grunge3Neo-Modernism3Industrial Architecture3Stripped Classicism3Neoclassical Architecture3Cinematography2Architecture2Cubism2Drawing / Sketch2Vector Minimalism2Surveillance2Wabi-Sabi2Liminal Space2Architectural Minimalism2Bowellism (High-Tech)2Socialist Modernism2Font Mixing2Metabolism2Deconstructivism2Parametric Architecture2Photorealism1Clay Style1Victorian1Impressionism1Abstract Expressionism1Music1Sculpture1Graffiti / Street Art1Fashion Design1Deconstructed Tailoring1Performing Arts1Mixed Media1Documentary Photography1Portrait Photography1Web 1.01Chromecore1Cyberpunk1Gen-X Soft Club1Type Doodles1Steampunk1

And 43 more, in the palettes above.

05Questions

What is the hex code for charcoal?

Charcoal is most often given as #36393D. There is no single official value; the 61 charcoal swatches in the Omoro library run across the range shown on this page.

What colours go with charcoal?

In the library's palettes, charcoal most often sits beside yellow, brown and blue, with black and white as the neutrals.

Which design styles use charcoal?

Grunge, Neo-Modernism and Industrial Architecture use it most. 83 styles use it in all.

Goes withYellow 30%Brown 22%Blue 20%Green 11%Red 9%Orange 9%
Every colour familyAll colors and shades →
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