Conversions, palettes, contrast & design ideas for this color.
Color profile
#FAFAFA is a neutral color from the White family, closest in name to “White”. In RGB it is rgb(250, 250, 250); in HSL, hsl(0, 0%, 98%).
The color White, with hexadecimal code #fafafa, belongs to the white color family. Near-whites like this convey purity, cleanliness, and simplicity, serving as the ultimate neutral canvas in design. Additionally, it evokes emotions such as Purity, Cleanliness, Innocence, Perfection and Simplicity. With negligible saturation (0%), this color is effectively achromatic—a pure neutral that pairs with any hue without competition. Its high lightness of 98% gives it a pale, ethereal quality—airy and delicate, best used as a tinted background or subtle accent. This color is ideal for designs that aim to express Purity, Cleanliness, Innocence, Perfection, or Simplicity. It can be effectively used in web design, branding, and marketing materials to attract attention and convey specific messages.
Key facts
The story of this color
White (#FAFAFA) belongs to the White color family.
As an achromatic shade, this color carries a timeless, versatile neutrality that anchors any palette it joins.
White has held deep symbolic weight across civilizations for millennia. In ancient Greece, white marble was the material of choice for temples and statues, equating the color with divine beauty and reason. During the Japanese Heian period, white robes signified mourning, while in Western Christianity white vestments mark Easter and baptism. The invention of titanium-white pigment in the early 20th century revolutionized paint manufacturing, making brilliant white finishes affordable worldwide.
White is the foundation of minimalist design and is indispensable for creating breathing room around content. It maximizes readability when used as a page background, and thin white borders can separate elements without visual clutter. In UI design, generous white space is a hallmark of premium brands—Apple, Google, and Airbnb all leverage it to signal simplicity and confidence.
White communicates purity, openness, and fresh starts. It can lower visual fatigue, making interfaces feel spacious and inviting. In healthcare contexts, white suggests sterility and cleanliness, while in fashion it projects crispness and sophistication.
Its high lightness of 98% makes it appear almost washed-out in bright environments, so it is best used as a background tint or gentle highlight rather than a foreground element.
Pair white backgrounds with a single bold accent color—such as cobalt blue or emerald green—for a striking one-color brand identity. For editorial layouts, use white as negative space to draw the eye toward hero imagery. In interior design, off-white shades like ivory or linen prevent a sterile feel while retaining brightness.
Every format
Every way to write White — one-tap copy on every format; tap on any card to learn what it is and when to use it.
#FAFAFA
Hexadecimal is the web’s universal color notation — two digits each for red, green and blue. Drop it straight into HTML, CSS or any design tool.
rgb(250, 250, 250)
RGB is the additive Red-Green-Blue model every screen uses to emit light. The default choice for websites, apps and on-screen UI.
hsl(0, 0%, 98%)
HSL breaks a color into Hue, Saturation and Lightness — the most intuitive way to lighten, darken or mute a color in CSS.
hsv(0, 0%, 98%)
HSV (also called HSB) maps Hue, Saturation and Value/Brightness. It is the model behind the color pickers in Photoshop, Figma and most design apps.
hwb(0 98% 2%)
HWB blends a pure hue with Whiteness and Blackness — a painter-friendly model added in CSS Color 4 for quick tints and shades.
cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 2%)
CMYK is the subtractive Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black ink model. Use these values when preparing artwork for a printer or commercial press.
oklch(98.51% 0.000 89.88)
OKLCH is a modern, perceptually-uniform space (Lightness, Chroma, Hue). It powers smooth gradients and accessible palettes in today’s CSS.
oklab(98.51% 0.000 0.000)
OKLab is the Cartesian form of OKLCH — ideal for blending and interpolating colors without the muddy midpoints older spaces produce.
L: 98.27, a: 0.01, b: -0.01
CIELAB is a device-independent, perceptually-uniform space. It is the standard for measuring color difference (ΔE) and matching across devices.
L: 98.27, C: 0.01, H: 296.81
LCH is CIELAB in cylindrical form — Lightness, Chroma and Hue — letting you adjust vividness and hue while staying perceptually even.
X: 90.87, Y: 95.60, Z: 104.11
CIE XYZ is the 1931 master space that underpins every other model here — the scientific bridge used to convert between color systems.
16448250
The 24-bit integer value of the color — handy for databases, APIs, game engines and low-level graphics code.
Channel breakdown
How much red, green and blue light mixes into White.
Percentages show each channel's share of the total light (R + G + B) in White.
Ink coverage
Ink needed to reproduce White in four-color print. Heaviest ink: Key (Black).
Print tip: treat these values as a starting point — final output depends on printer profile, paper stock and calibration.
Accessibility · WCAG
How bright White is, and how far black and white text clear each WCAG bar.
Contrast ratio · 1:1 → 21:1 (log scale)
Developer shortcuts
Copy-and-paste CSS for White — per-line copy, or grab the whole block.
background-color: #FAFAFA;
color: #FAFAFA;
border: 2px solid #FAFAFA;
background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250);
background-color: hsl(0, 0%, 98%);
--color: #FAFAFA;
Shades · light to dark
Lighter and darker steps of White — the color's full brightness range in one strip.
The dot marks the original color. Hover any shade to copy its hex or open its color page.
Harmony · 180° apart
Two colors opposite on the wheel — maximum contrast for attention-grabbing accents.
The dot marks the original color. Hover any shade to copy its hex or open its color page.
Harmony · adjacent hues
Neighboring hues on the wheel — harmonious, calm combinations that feel unified.
The dot marks the original color. Hover any shade to copy its hex or open its color page.
Harmony · 120° apart
Three colors evenly spaced on the wheel — vibrant and energetic, yet balanced.
The dot marks the original color. Hover any shade to copy its hex or open its color page.
Harmony · 90° apart
Four colors evenly spaced on the wheel (tetradic) — rich schemes with multiple accents.
The dot marks the original color. Hover any shade to copy its hex or open its color page.
Visualizer · Patterns & Icons
See White as a seamless pattern or an icon set. Pick the second color from live harmonies, tune the scale and angle, then copy the CSS or download the tile.
Accessibility
How White reads across five kinds of color vision — a ✓ Friendly verdict means the color difference stays distinguishable for that vision type.
The dot marks the original color. Hover any shade to copy its hex.
Harmony overview
The lead color from each harmony scheme, side by side — a shortcut to the full palettes above.
Perceptually nearby
A step away in brightness, richness or shade — each still feels like the same color.
From the color-name library
The closest named colors to #FAFAFA — same mood, each with its own character.
Looking for more White shades? Browse White colors →
Inspiration
Curated Unsplash photos that carry the mood of White — hover any tile to download it or view the original.
Good to know
Harmony