Black and White
Why they work: the zero-chroma contrast — nothing to hide behind.
Combination sets
The classic split
Black and White with a light tint of black, a deep shade of white and white for breathing room.
Dark mode
Both anchors survive on dark: White as the highlight, Black as the accent, and two intermediate surfaces for elevation.
Soft & light
Both anchors reduced to tints for airy sections, with the full-strength colors kept for buttons and links.
60 / 30 / 10 UI set
A practical interface split: neutral ~60%, black ~30% for structure, white ~10% for calls to action.
Gradient bridge
The direct perceptual path from black to white — use for hero sections, charts and progress states.
Contrast data
| Foreground | Background | Ratio | AA | AAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #000000 | #FFFFFF | 21.00:1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| #FFFFFF | #000000 | 21.00:1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| #000000 | #FFFFFF | 21.00:1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| #000000 | #000000 | 1.00:1 | ✗ | ✗ |
| #FFFFFF | #FFFFFF | 1.00:1 | ✗ | ✗ |
| #FFFFFF | #000000 | 21.00:1 | ✓ | ✓ |
| #16161D | #636363 | 3.00:1 | ✗ | ✗ |
Related combinations
FAQ
Do black and white go together?
Yes — the zero-chroma contrast — nothing to hide behind. Their hues are 0° apart on the color wheel and the direct pair contrast is 21:1. The sets on this page show exactly how to balance them (both cool).
What text color works on black and white?
On black use #FFFFFF text (21:1); on white use #000000 (21:1). Both pass WCAG AA for normal text.
What are the exact color codes?
Black: #000000 — OKLCH oklch(0% 0 0). White: #FFFFFF — OKLCH oklch(100% 0 0).