Technology
Apple Color Codes
Apple's color is a light gray, #A2AAAD, which is what the bitten apple reduces to when it is not simply black or white. The Apple color codes in Hex, RGB and CMYK can be found below. Rob Janoff drew the mark in 1977, and the bite exists so the shape would not be mistaken for a cherry at small sizes. The flat gray that replaced the rainbow is the value on this page.
Primary colors
What are Apple Primary Colors?
Apple's primary color is gray #A2AAAD, a cool neutral rather than a true silver.
Apple publishes no public CMYK or Pantone sheet, so both are shown below as conversions and nearest matches.
Apple Gray
| Hex | #A2AAAD |
|---|---|
| RGB | 162, 170, 173 |
| HSL | hsl(196, 6%, 66%) |
| CMYK | 6%, 2%, 0%, 32%converted · approximate |
| Pantone | PMS 443 Cnearest match · not published by the brand |
Apple Hex Color Codes
Apple hex color codes are #A2AAAD for gray.
| Color | Hex |
|---|---|
| Gray | #A2AAAD |
Apple RGB Color Codes
Apple RGB color codes are 162, 170, 173 for gray. Reach for RGB when a tool wants channel numbers or a CSS alpha value.
| Color | RGB |
|---|---|
| Gray | rgb(162, 170, 173) |
Apple HSL Color Codes
Apple HSL color codes are 196, 6%, 66% for gray. Change the third value for a lighter or darker version without moving the hue.
| Color | HSL |
|---|---|
| Gray | hsl(196, 6%, 66%) |
Apple CMYK Color Code
Apple CMYK color codes are conversions from the hex, because the brand publishes none. Check a printed proof before a full run.
| Color | CMYK |
|---|---|
| Gray | 6%, 2%, 0%, 32% |
Apple Pantone Color Codes
Apple Pantone color codes are nearest matches by color distance, not brand specs. The table shows the closest swatch for every color.
| Color | Nearest Pantone |
|---|---|
| Gray | PMS 443 C |
Logo
Apple Logo Colors
Apple logo colors are one gray, applied flat, with black and white as the working alternatives.
Apple Logo Colors Palette
What the Apple Logo Colors Mean?
The Apple logo colors mean less now than they did in 1977. Janoff's original carried six horizontal stripes, and Steve Jobs pushed for them to humanize the company and to signal that the Apple II could do color graphics, which almost nothing else on a desk could at the time. Apple dropped the rainbow on 27 August 1999. What replaced it was a single tone, and the gray you see here is that decision.
Apple Logo Color History
Apple logo color history runs rainbow, then monochrome. The six stripes lasted from 1977 to 1999. An Aqua treatment ran 1997 to 2003 and a glass version 2007 to 2013, both of which used gradients rather than a flat fill, so a single hex never described them properly. The flat gray is the honest modern value.
Apple Logo JPG
Apple logo in JPG. No transparency, so it is flattened onto white. Safe for documents and slide decks.
Apple Logo PNG
Apple logo in PNG, with a transparent background. Use it over a colored surface.
Apple Logo WebP
Apple logo in WebP. Same transparency as the PNG at about a third of the file size.
Apple Color Code Shades
Apple color code shades step evenly from the primary toward black, for hover states, borders and shadows.
These are interface steps, not Apple paint or trim names.
In code
Using the Apple palette
CSS custom properties
:root {
--apple-gray: #A2AAAD;
}Contrast against white
| Gray | 2.36:1AA × |
|---|
Brand colors are chosen for recognition, not for legibility. A failing value here is normal. It means use it as a fill, not as text.