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Grey Color Code: Standard Values and How to Use Them in a Logo

The standard grey color code is #808080 (RGB 128, 128, 128). See the named web greys, the grey vs. gray spelling, and how to specify grey in vector logo files for screen and print.

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Contents
  1. The short answer
  2. Grey or gray: does the spelling change the code?
  3. Named grey color codes
  4. Is #808080 a true middle grey?
  5. Specifying grey in a vector logo file
  6. Grey in print: why the screen value is not enough
  7. Getting a grey from an existing logo
  8. What this overview cannot tell you

The short answer

The standard grey color code is the hex value #808080, which is RGB 128, 128, 128. This is the value assigned to the CSS and HTML color keyword "gray" (also accepted as "grey"). It is a neutral grey because its red, green and blue channels are equal, so it has no hue. In HSL notation it is hue 0, saturation 0% and lightness of about 50%.

There is no single official grey, though. Grey is a whole range of neutral values between white (#FFFFFF) and black (#000000). Any hex code where the three channel pairs match is a neutral grey, such as #333333, #999999 or #CCCCCC. A brand's own grey is whatever value its brand guidelines specify. If you are matching an existing logo, a generic grey code is only a starting point.

Grey or gray: does the spelling change the code?

No. "Gray" is the usual US spelling and "grey" is the usual British spelling. Searches for the gray color code and the grey color code have the same answer. Modern CSS accepts both spellings for every grey keyword, so "gray" and "grey" both resolve to #808080, and "darkgray" and "darkgrey" are identical. Older or non-browser software may recognize only one spelling, so hex values are safer in files that leave the browser.

Named grey color codes

These are the standard named greys defined for web use. They are fixed values in the CSS color specification, not brand colors.

Keyword | Hex | RGB
gainsboro | #DCDCDC | 220, 220, 220
lightgray / lightgrey | #D3D3D3 | 211, 211, 211
silver | #C0C0C0 | 192, 192, 192
darkgray / darkgrey | #A9A9A9 | 169, 169, 169
gray / grey | #808080 | 128, 128, 128
dimgray / dimgrey | #696969 | 105, 105, 105
slategray / slategrey | #708090 | 112, 128, 144
lightslategray / lightslategrey | #778899 | 119, 136, 153
darkslategray / darkslategrey | #2F4F4F | 47, 79, 79

Two details trip people up. First, "darkgray" (#A9A9A9) is lighter than plain "gray" (#808080), a long-standing quirk of the keyword list. Second, the slate greys are not neutral: their blue and green channels are higher than red, which gives them a cool tint. Choose slate greys only if you want that tint.

Is #808080 a true middle grey?

Numerically, yes: 128 is the midpoint of the 0–255 channel range. Visually, not quite. Because of how sRGB encodes brightness, #808080 has a CIELAB lightness of roughly 54 out of 100. It looks slightly lighter than halfway between black and white. Keep this in mind when building a grey scale for a logo palette. Steps that are evenly spaced in hex will not look evenly spaced. Judge the tints by eye or in a perceptual color space.

Specifying grey in a vector logo file

In vector artwork, a grey is stored as a fill or stroke value on each path, so you can change it exactly without loss. In SVG, that value appears directly in the markup:

<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 100 100">
  <rect x="10" y="10" width="80" height="80" fill="#808080"/>
  <text x="50" y="58" text-anchor="middle" fill="#333333">Logo</text>
</svg>

In design applications, save the grey as a named swatch, or as a global color where the tool supports it. Every instance can then be updated at once. A logo palette document should record each grey in all the formats the logo will need, so nobody has to convert values later by guesswork.

  • Hex and RGB for screens, websites and digital documents.
  • CMYK for process printing, ideally defined for the specific print profile in use.
  • A spot color reference, such as a swatch from a Pantone Cool Gray or Warm Gray series, if the brand prints with spot inks.
  • A note on whether the grey should print with black ink only or as a four-color mix.

Grey in print: why the screen value is not enough

RGB greys do not map cleanly to print. A naive conversion of #808080 might suggest black ink at about 50%. The actual CMYK values depend on the color profile used for the conversion, and many conversions add cyan, magenta and yellow as well. For logos, a grey printed with black ink only is often preferred because it stays neutral and avoids color shifts from misregistered plates. Four-color greys can drift warm or cool on press. Neither the exact tint percentage nor the matching spot color can be derived from the hex code alone. Both need to be chosen and proofed for the intended printing process.

Sampling a color with an eyedropper gives reliable results only from true vector shapes. Many logo files labeled as vector, including some SVG, EPS, AI and PDF files, actually contain an embedded raster image. Some are only a raster preview. The file extension alone does not tell you which. In a raster image, edges are anti-aliased and compression can shift pixel values. A grey sampled there may come out as a slightly tinted or inaccurate value. Open the file and check whether the grey area is a selectable path with a defined fill. If it is not, treat the sampled code as an approximation. Look for the official value in the brand's guidelines instead.

What this overview cannot tell you

The values above are standard web color definitions and general color principles. They do not identify the grey used by any particular brand. They also do not supply official CMYK or spot color equivalents for a specific logo or printing setup. Being able to download a logo and sample its grey does not mean you may modify the artwork or use the mark. Those rights depend on the brand's licensing and trademark terms.