RAL and NCS values are nearest equivalents, not official designations.
In Western cultures, Blue Gray often conveys feelings of serenity and stability, making it popular in design for spaces intended for relaxation. Conversely, in Eastern traditions, gray can symbolize mourning, which adds a layer of complexity to its interpretation.
The term 'blue gray' emerged in the 19th century, aligning with the rise of Romanticism in art and design, where muted palettes gained popularity. Notably, the color was used in military uniforms during the American Civil War, symbolizing both the Union and Confederate sides.
Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Blue Gray. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).
All 27 Grays →Nine steps of Blue Gray by lightness — from #4B555C (darkest) to #C6CFD6 (lightest). Click any to copy.
Sitting opposite Blue Gray at 25° on the color wheel, these give the highest-contrast pairings.
Curated 5-color combinations featuring Blue Gray.
A 50–900 tonal scale with Blue Gray anchored at 500 — ready to drop into a design system. Click any step to copy.
Works well as text on dark backgrounds; fails on light.
Thresholds: AA needs 4.5:1 (normal text) / 3:1 (large); AAA needs 7:1 / 4.5:1. Large = 18pt+ or 14pt+ bold.
Copy-ready values for CSS, screen and print, plus the extra conversions designers reach for.
color: #91A3B0; color-mix(in srgb, #91A3B0 70%, white) 205°, 18%, 69% 18, 7, 0, 31 9544624 #999999 How Blue Gray appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.