Color swatch image showing #838B8A with RGB(131,139,138) values

#838B8A Color Meaning and Information

Everything you need to know about #838B8A including values, color harmonies, shades, meanings, and applications in design, branding, and everyday visuals.

#838B8A Color Information

#838B8A RGB value is (131, 139, 138). The hex color red value is 131, green is 139, and blue is 138. Its HSL format shows a hue of 173°, saturation of 3 percent, and lightness of 53 percent. The CMYK process values are 6 percent, 0 percent, 1 percent, 45 percent.

#838B8A
rgb(131, 139, 138)
ColorMean
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#838B8A Color Meaning

Color #838B8A projects reserved intelligence, mineral composure, and quiet authority. #838B8A dark grey-blue pulls from storm clouds and oxidized copper—cool, dense, and inherently stable. Psychologically, color #838B8A conveys seriousness without severity; #838B8A’s ideal for legal tech, financial reports, and institutional branding where trust is built through consistency, not charisma. Unlike black, which can feel absolute, #838B8A retains subtle tonal depth that invites closer inspection. Spiritually, #838B8A represents judgment that listens before deciding. Use color #838B8A when your message must feel vetted, measured, and quietly unshakable—especially in high-stakes or highly regulated contexts.

Color Conversion

Convert #838B8A 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
#838B8A
RGB
rgb(131, 139, 138)
HSL
hsl(173°, 3%, 53%)
CMYK
cmyk(6%, 0%, 1%, 45%)
HSV
hsv(173°, 6%, 55%)
XYZ
23.1801 25.1255 27.6727
Yxy
25.1255 0.3051 0.3307
Hunter Lab
50.1253 -0.3266 -0.0466
CIE-Lab
57.1975 -3.1174 -0.4830

RGB Values & CMYK Values

RGB Values

Red131 / 255 (51%)
51%
Green139 / 255 (55%)
55%
Blue138 / 255 (54%)
54%

CMYK Values

Cyan6 / 100 (6%)
Magenta0 / 100 (0%)
Yellow1 / 100 (1%)
Key (Black)45 / 100 (45%)
45%

Color Variations

#838B8A 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

#838B8A 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 #838B8A 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
#838B8A

Sample Text

This is how your text will look with these colors.

Large Text (18pt+)

3.49:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Normal Text

3.49:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

UI Components

3.49:1
WCAG AA
WCAG AAA

Color Blindness Simulator

See how #838B8A 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

#838B8A

protanopia

#86878a

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

CSS Examples

Background Color

background-color: #838B8A;

Text Color

color: #838B8A;

Sample Text

Border Color

border: 2px solid #838B8A;

Box Shadow

box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #838B8A40;

Text Shadow

text-shadow: 2px 2px 4px #838B8A;

Sample Text

Gradient

background: linear-gradient(135deg, #838B8A 0%, #4d5251 100%);

#838B8A Color FAQs

Frequently asked questions about #838B8A color meaning, symbolism, and applications. Click on any question to expand detailed answers.