NCS S 3000-N - Charcoal Grey
NCS S 3000-N (Charcoal Grey) is an NCS color with a HEX approximation of #ACACAC, RGB 172, 172, 172, and CMYK 0/0/0/33. It has 30% blackness and 0% chromaticness with hue N. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is Cool Gray 6 C (Delta E 1.37), and its closest NCS neighbor is S 2500-N (Darker Grey).
About NCS S 3000-N
NCS S 3000-N is part of the Natural Color System, a perceptual color notation system developed in Sweden and widely used across Scandinavia and Northern Europe for architectural paint specifications. The code reads as: S (Standard) · 30% blackness · 0% chromaticness · hue N.
Like every NCS code, S 3000-N is defined by a physical paint swatch in the NCS Color Atlas, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #ACACAC is the most commonly-published translation, but physical NCS swatches are the only authoritative source. The full NCS Atlas contains roughly 1,950 codes; our reference covers 50 benchmark codes.
Closest Pantone match
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to NCS S 3000-N is Cool Gray 6 C (#A7A8A9), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.37. This is a very close match suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Closest NCS neighbors
These NCS codes are perceptually closest to S 3000-N, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family differ by Delta E 2-8 typically - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where NCS S 3000-N is used
NCS S 3000-N is typically specified in architectural facades, metal cladding, concrete surfaces, infrastructure, and modern interiors. Its gray tone makes it appropriate wherever a neutral, architectural, or structural palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 3000-N for a production run, verify the color against a physical NCS color fan under the actual lighting conditions and finish (matte, semi-gloss, gloss) that will be used - the same code looks meaningfully different across finishes.
Frequently asked questions
What is NCS S 3000-N in HEX?
NCS S 3000-N (Charcoal Grey) has a HEX approximation of #ACACAC. This is the widely-published mid-range value - NCS is a perceptual color notation system, not a digital one, so any HEX representation is a translation rather than a definition. Different published sources disagree by 2-5% for the same NCS code; #ACACAC is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What does NCS S 3000-N mean?
The code breaks down as: S (Standard), 30% blackness, 0% chromaticness, hue N. Blackness measures how much black the color contains relative to pure white (0%) and pure black (100%). Chromaticness measures how saturated the color is relative to a neutral gray at the same blackness. Hue N specifies the position on the NCS perceptual color wheel - with Y for yellow, R for red, B for blue, G for green, or N for neutral.
What Pantone color is closest to NCS S 3000-N?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated match to NCS S 3000-N is Cool Gray 6 C (#A7A8A9), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.37. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
What NCS color is closest to NCS S 3000-N?
The closest NCS neighbors to S 3000-N are S 2500-N (Darker Grey, Delta E 3.6), S 2000-N (Medium Grey, Delta E 7.2), S 4000-N (Slate Grey, Delta E 9.0). Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where is NCS S 3000-N commonly used?
NCS S 3000-N is typically used in architectural facades, metal cladding, concrete surfaces, infrastructure, and modern interiors. Its gray tone makes it appropriate wherever a neutral, architectural, or structural palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 3000-N for a production run, verify against a physical NCS color fan - the same code looks meaningfully different in different finishes.