Charcoal vs White — Difference, Contrast & Harmony

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Comparison sheet

Colors & data

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Charcoalnearest vs Whiteexact

#173F54 · #FFFFFF

Four independent scores (read the one that fits your goal): Readability 86/100 (aaa) · Harmony 91/100 (split-complementary) · Distinguishable 100/100 (easy to tell apart) · Match 0/100 (different). There is no single “good/bad” — a pair can clash for text yet be great for an outfit.

Readability86AAA

Aa

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

AAA11.2:1

Harmony91Split-complementary

Split-complementary

159° apart

Distinguishable100Easy to tell apart

normal

tritanopia

ΔE 77 (73 under CVD)

Match0Different

ΔE 77 — different

How different are Charcoal and White?

Charcoal and White are very different (ΔE 77). They have near-opposite hues (159° apart) and their lightness is different, giving a clear light/dark split.

Can you read one on the other?

Charcoal text on White: 11.20:1 (AAA); White text on Charcoal: 11.20:1 (AAA). Both directions meet WCAG AA.

Common questions

Do Charcoal and White go well together?

Split-complementary — split-complementary — a recognised, balanced pairing (harmony 91/100). This is about how they look together (clothing, interiors, branding), independent of text contrast.

Is Charcoal readable as text on White?

Yes — 11.2:1, which meets WCAG AA.

What is the colour difference (ΔE) between Charcoal and White?

Their CIE76 ΔE is about 77 — very different.

Are Charcoal and White the same colour?

clearly different colours (ΔE 77).

Related comparisons

Explore each color: Charcoal #173F54 · White #FFFFFF · Shades: Charcoal shades · White shades · Contrast checker →

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