Chinese Black

The digital color #141414, known as "Chinese Black", is classified in the Register under the Red Color Family, with Desaturated and Very Dark brightness. In numbers: rgb(20, 20, 20) (7.8% red, 7.8% green, 7.8% blue), or CMYK 0 / 0 / 0 / 92 for print. Curious how these numbers work? Read our RGB color codes guide.

The color #141414 reads as a muted, almost neutral deep charcoal and lives deep in the shadows. Expect to see shades like this in moody backdrops, typography on light surfaces and premium packaging. In The Official Register of Color Names it is practically indistinguishable from Standard-Bearer (#141216). Nearby in the Register you will also find All Black (#181818) and Vintage Black (#18130E).

Technically, #141414 is a perfectly balanced RGB mix — red, green and blue all sit at 20, which is what makes it a true neutral. On this background, white text reaches a 18.4:1 contrast ratio (passing WCAG AAA); black stays at 1.1:1. For print, note the heavy black component (K:92) — ink coverage matters with tones this deep. The name "Chinese Black" is officially recorded for this exact shade in The Official Register of Color Names.