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What color do black and white make?

Mixed as paint, black and white make a gray. Change the ratio, switch to light or CSS mixing, and copy the result.

Colors to mix

1

50%

1

50%

Paint mode simulates real pigments with the Kubelka-Munk model, so blue and yellow make green, just like on a palette.

gray

#A7A7A7 · gray

HEX

RGB

HSL

OKLCH

Contrast 2.41:1 with white, 8.73:1 with black

Blend steps

All color 1

Click a step to use its ratio

All color 2

Add white

20%

40%

60%

80%

Add black

20%

40%

60%

80%

Using #A7A7A7 in a UI? Atmos builds an accessible shade scale from it.

Generate shades free

Black and white make gray

Mixed as paint, black and white make a gray (#A7A7A7). As light on a screen, they make a white (#FFFFFF), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a gray (#838383).

gray

#A7A7A7

As paint

Pigments absorb light, so every color you add takes some away. This is what you get on a palette or canvas.

white

#FFFFFF

As light

Colored lights add up, as on a screen or stage. Mixes get brighter, not darker.

gray

#838383

In CSS (OKLCH)

What color-mix(in oklch, …) returns for an even mix in the browser.

Mixing black and white in different ratios

The ratio decides which color leads. These are paint mixes, measured in equal-sized parts.

3:1 · #808080

3 black : 1 white, gray

2:1 · #8F8F8F

2 black : 1 white, gray

1:1 · #A7A7A7

1 black : 1 white, gray

1:2 · #BCBCBC

1 black : 2 white, gray

1:3 · #C7C7C7

1 black : 3 white, light gray

Making the mix lighter or darker

Add white for tints and black for shades. Each step adds 20% more of it to the even black and white mix.

With white

#B7B7B7

20%

#C4C4C4

40%

#D2D2D2

60%

#E0E0E0

80%

With black

#959595

20%

#828282

40%

#6C6C6C

60%

#4E4E4E

80%

Need a full scale for a UI instead? The shade generator builds evenly spaced, accessible shades from any color.

Mixing black and white FAQ

Mixed as paint, black and white make a gray (#A7A7A7). As light on a screen, they make a white (#FFFFFF), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a gray (#838383).

Light adds up instead of absorbing, so black and white light make a white (#FFFFFF). That is why screens can show bright yellows from red and green light, while the same paints would turn brown.

Change the ratio. Three parts black to one part white gives a gray (#808080), while one part black to three parts white gives a light gray (#C7C7C7). To lighten the result add white, and to darken it add a little black.

Use color-mix(in oklch, #1A1A1A 50%, #FFFFFF 50%), which gives #838383. OKLCH keeps the middle of the mix bright, while mixing in sRGB tends to turn it gray.