Color swatch image showing Charcoal (#36454F) with RGB(54,69,79) values

Charcoal (#36454F) Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about Charcoal (#36454F) including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

Charcoal (#36454F) Color Information

Charcoal (#36454F) RGB value is (54, 69, 79). The hex color red value is 54, green is 69, and blue is 79. Its HSL format shows a hue of 204°, saturation of 19 percent, and lightness of 26 percent. The CMYK process values are 32 percent, 13 percent, 0 percent, 69 percent.

Charcoal
#36454F
rgb(54, 69, 79)
ColorMean
Share

Charcoal (#36454F) Color Meaning

Charcoal (#36454F) signifies urban depth, intellectual gravity, and restrained authority. Charcoal (#36454F) is a deep, slightly blue-grey that sits between black and navy—dense enough to feel serious, cool enough to avoid heaviness. Unlike pure black, it retains chromatic identity; unlike slate, it carries weight. In corporate and editorial design, Charcoal (#36454F) signals professionalism without sterility. Usability research confirms it reduces eye strain better than black in long-form digital reading while maintaining strong contrast. Functionally, Charcoal (#36454F) is a versatile alternative to black in typography, UI elements, and print. It meets WCAG AAA standards for text against white and pairs beautifully with warm accents like rust, ochre, or sage. Print reproduction is consistent across all stocks, and its subtle blue undertone prevents the “muddy” effect of pure greys. Consumer perception studies show brands using Charcoal (#36454F) are rated as more thoughtful and modern than those using black. Symbolically, Charcoal (#36454F) represents authority that listens. It is the color of midnight cityscapes, pressed wool, and well-worn notebooks. In spiritual practice, it aligns with the third eye’s discerning mode: judgment tempered by observation. Designers choose Charcoal (#36454F) when they want to signal depth without darkness. Its power lies in its precision—not absence, but intention.

Color Conversion

Convert Charcoal (#36454F) across different color models and formats. These conversions help designers work seamlessly between digital and print media, ensuring this color maintains its intended appearance across RGB screens, CMYK printers, and HSL color manipulations.

HEX
#36454F
RGB
rgb(54, 69, 79)
HSL
hsl(204°, 19%, 26%)
CMYK
cmyk(32%, 13%, 0%, 69%)
HSV
hsv(204°, 32%, 31%)
XYZ
5.0607 5.6050 8.2123
Yxy
5.6050 0.2681 0.2969
Hunter Lab
23.6749 -0.0587 -0.1472
CIE-Lab
28.3933 -3.2477 -7.9614

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red54 / 255 (21%)
21%
Green69 / 255 (27%)
27%
Blue79 / 255 (31%)
31%

CMYK Values

Cyan32 / 100 (32%)
32%
Magenta13 / 100 (13%)
13%
Yellow0 / 100 (0%)
Key (Black)69 / 100 (69%)
69%

Color Variations

Charcoal (#36454F) harmonies come to life through carefully balanced shades, tints, and tones, giving this color depth and flexibility across light and dark variations. Shades add richness, tints bring an airy softness, and tones soften intensity, making it easy to pair in clean, modern palettes.

Color Harmonies

Charcoal (#36454F) harmonies create beautiful relationships with other colors based on their position on the color wheel. Each harmony type offers unique design possibilities, enabling cohesive and visually appealing color schemes.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the color wheel (30° apart)

Complementary

Colors opposite on the color wheel (180° apart)

Split Complementary

Three colors using one base hue and the two hues beside its opposite

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced (120° apart)

Tetradic

Four colors forming a rectangle on the wheel

Square

Four colors evenly spaced (90° apart)

Double Split

Four colors formed from two base hues and the colors next to their opposites

Monochromatic

Variations of a single hue

Contrast Checker

(WCAG 2.1) Test Charcoal (#36454F) for accessibility compliance against white and black backgrounds. Proper contrast ensures this color remains readable and usable for all audiences, meeting WCAG 2.1 standards for both normal and large text applications.

#FFFFFF
#36454F

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

9.90:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

9.90:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

9.90:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #36454F appears to people with different types of color vision deficiencies. These simulations help create more inclusive designs that consider how this color is perceived across various visual abilities.

Normal Vision

Charcoal (#36454F)

protanopia

#3c3d4d

Note: These simulations are approximations. Actual color vision deficiency varies by individual.

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #36454F;

Text Color

color: #36454F;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #36454F;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #36454F40;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #36454F;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #36454F 0%, #222c32 100%);

Charcoal (#36454F) Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Charcoal (#36454F) color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.