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What color do gray and white make?

Mixed as paint, gray and white make a light 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.

light gray

#BFBFBF · light gray

HEX

RGB

HSL

OKLCH

Contrast 1.84:1 with white, 11.42:1 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 #BFBFBF in a UI? Atmos builds accessible shade scales from colors like this.

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Gray and white make light gray

Mixed as paint, gray and white make a light gray (#BFBFBF). As light on a screen, they make a white (#FFFFFF), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a light gray (#C3C3C3).

light gray

#BFBFBF

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.

light gray

#C3C3C3

In CSS (OKLCH)

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

Mixing gray and white in different ratios

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

3:1 · #A8A8A8

3 gray : 1 white, gray

2:1 · #B0B0B0

2 gray : 1 white, gray

1:1 · #BFBFBF

1 gray : 1 white, light gray

1:2 · #CDCDCD

1 gray : 2 white, light gray

1:3 · #D5D5D5

1 gray : 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 gray and white mix.

With white

#C9C9C9

20%

#D2D2D2

40%

#DCDCDC

60%

#E7E7E7

80%

With black

#A9A9A9

20%

#939393

40%

#7A7A7A

60%

#595959

80%

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

Mixing gray and white FAQ

Mixed as paint, gray and white make a light gray (#BFBFBF). As light on a screen, they make a white (#FFFFFF), and blended in CSS with OKLCH they give a light gray (#C3C3C3).

Light adds up instead of absorbing, so gray 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 gray to one part white gives a gray (#A8A8A8), while one part gray to three parts white gives a light gray (#D5D5D5). To lighten the result add white, and to darken it add a little black.

Use color-mix(in oklch, #8A8A8A 50%, #FFFFFF 50%), which gives #C3C3C3. OKLCH keeps the middle of the mix bright, while mixing in sRGB tends to turn it gray.