RAL and NCS values are nearest equivalents, not official designations.
In Western cultures, Gainsboro embodies simplicity and neutrality, often associated with modern minimalism. However, in some Eastern cultures, lighter grays can symbolize humility and tranquility, contrasting with more vibrant colors that evoke energy and passion.
The term 'Gainsboro' was first recorded in the 1980s, inspired by the Gainsboro neighborhood in Virginia. This color gained popularity in design and architecture, particularly in the late 20th century, as a versatile choice for contemporary interiors.
Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Gainsboro. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).
All 27 Grays →Nine steps of Gainsboro by lightness — from #727272 (darkest) to #EDEDED (lightest). Click any to copy.
Curated 5-color combinations featuring Gainsboro.
A 50–900 tonal scale with Gainsboro 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: gainsboro; color-mix(in srgb, gainsboro 70%, white) 0°, 0%, 86% 0, 0, 0, 14 14474460 #CCCCCC How Gainsboro appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.