What color is #51556A?

#51556A is a dark, grayish blue, closest to the named color Heavy Violet. It belongs to the blue family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #51556A?

The RGB value is 81, 85, 106: 81 red, 85 green and 106 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #51556A?

The complementary color is #6A6651, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #51556A?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.86:1 and white text 7.35:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#51556A color

#51556A rgb(81, 85, 106)

Shades of blue

The hex color #51556A is a dark, grayish blue.

In the RGB color model it is made of 31.8% red, 33.3% green and 41.6% blue (81, 85, 106).

Its hue angle is 230°, with 13% saturation and 37% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 24% cyan, 20% magenta, 0% yellow and 58% black.

The closest named color is Heavy Violet (#4F566C), a difference of 1.4 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 7.35:1).

#51556A color codes

HEX	`#51556A`
RGB	`rgb(81, 85, 106)`
RGB percent	`rgb(31.8%, 33.3%, 41.6%)`
HSL	`hsl(230, 13%, 37%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(230, 24%, 42%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(24%, 20%, 0%, 58%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(36.53, 3.5, -12.58)`
CIE LCH	`lch(36.53, 13.06, 285.55)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(9.243, 9.287, 14.938)`
Decimal	`5330282`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #51556A, 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 #51556A	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.86:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	7.35:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#51556A as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	7.35:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.86:1	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 #51556A looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #51556a; }
.text { color: #51556a; }
.border { border: 2px solid #51556a; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(81 85 106 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #51556a, #5a516a); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Charcoal.

Questions

What color is #51556A?: #51556A is a dark, grayish blue, closest to the named color Heavy Violet. It belongs to the blue family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #51556A?: The RGB value is 81, 85, 106: 81 red, 85 green and 106 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #51556A?: The complementary color is #6A6651, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #51556A?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 2.86:1 and white text 7.35:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.