What color is #172C38?

#172C38 is a very dark, desaturated azure, closest to the named color Oceanic Noir. It belongs to the black family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #172C38?

The RGB value is 23, 44, 56: 23 red, 44 green and 56 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #172C38?

The complementary color is #382317, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #172C38?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.45:1 and white text 14.44:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#172C38 color

#172C38 rgb(23, 44, 56)

Shades of black

The hex color #172C38 is a very dark, desaturated azure.

In the RGB color model it is made of 9% red, 17.3% green and 22% blue (23, 44, 56).

Its hue angle is 202°, with 42% saturation and 15% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 59% cyan, 21% magenta, 0% yellow and 78% black.

The closest named color is Oceanic Noir (#172B36), a difference of 0.6 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 14.44:1).

#172C38 color codes

HEX	`#172C38`
RGB	`rgb(23, 44, 56)`
RGB percent	`rgb(9%, 17.3%, 22%)`
HSL	`hsl(202, 42%, 15%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(202, 59%, 22%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(59%, 21%, 0%, 78%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(16.84, -4.26, -10.28)`
CIE LCH	`lch(16.84, 11.13, 247.49)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(1.968, 2.269, 4.075)`
Decimal	`1518648`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #172C38, 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 #172C38	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.45:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	14.44:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#172C38 as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	14.44:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.45:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

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 #172C38 looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #172c38; }
.text { color: #172c38; }
.border { border: 2px solid #172c38; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(23 44 56 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #172c38, #171c38); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Gunmetal.

Questions

What color is #172C38?: #172C38 is a very dark, desaturated azure, closest to the named color Oceanic Noir. It belongs to the black family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #172C38?: The RGB value is 23, 44, 56: 23 red, 44 green and 56 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #172C38?: The complementary color is #382317, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #172C38?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.45:1 and white text 14.44:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.