What color is #B9D9EB?

#B9D9EB is a very light, moderate azure known as Columbia Blue. It belongs to the blue family of colors.

What is the RGB value of Columbia Blue?

The RGB value is 185, 217, 235: 185 red, 217 green and 235 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of Columbia Blue?

The complementary color is #EBCBB9, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #B9D9EB?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 14.19:1 and white text 1.48:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

Columbia Blue color: hex code #B9D9EB

#B9D9EB rgb(185, 217, 235)

Shades of blue

Columbia Blue has the hex code #B9D9EB. It is a very light, moderate azure.

In the RGB color model it is made of 72.5% red, 85.1% green and 92.2% blue (185, 217, 235).

Its hue angle is 202°, with 56% saturation and 82% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 21% cyan, 8% magenta, 0% yellow and 8% black.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 14.19:1).

Columbia Blue (#B9D9EB) color codes

HEX	`#B9D9EB`
RGB	`rgb(185, 217, 235)`
RGB percent	`rgb(72.5%, 85.1%, 92.2%)`
HSL	`hsl(202, 56%, 82%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(202, 21%, 92%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(21%, 8%, 0%, 8%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(84.96, -6.72, -12.33)`
CIE LCH	`lch(84.96, 14.04, 241.41)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(59.812, 65.936, 88.157)`
Decimal	`12179947`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with Columbia Blue, based on their position on the color wheel.

Complementary

The color opposite on the color wheel (180°). Strongest contrast.

Analogous

Neighbors 30° either side. Calm, natural combinations.

Split complementary

The two colors next to the complement (150° and 210°).

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced, 120° apart.

Tetradic (square)

Four colors 90° apart.

Shades, tints and tones

Shades (darker, mixed with black)

Tints (lighter, mixed with white)

Tones (mixed with gray)

Contrast and accessibility

Text on #B9D9EB	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	14.19:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.48:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

#B9D9EB as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.48:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	14.19:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

WCAG 2 asks for 4.5:1 for normal text (AA), 7:1 for AAA, and 3:1 for large text. Check other pairs.

Color blindness simulation

How #B9D9EB looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #b9d9eb; }
.text { color: #b9d9eb; }
.border { border: 2px solid #b9d9eb; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(185 217 235 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #b9d9eb, #b9c0eb); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

See #B9D9EB on its hex code page

Questions

What color is #B9D9EB?: #B9D9EB is a very light, moderate azure known as Columbia Blue. It belongs to the blue family of colors.
What is the RGB value of Columbia Blue?: The RGB value is 185, 217, 235: 185 red, 217 green and 235 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of Columbia Blue?: The complementary color is #EBCBB9, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #B9D9EB?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 14.19:1 and white text 1.48:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.