What color is #516B8C?

#516B8C is a desaturated azure, closest to the named color Clean Slate. It belongs to the blue family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #516B8C?

The RGB value is 81, 107, 140: 81 red, 107 green and 140 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #516B8C?

The complementary color is #8C7251, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #516B8C?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 3.83:1 and white text 5.48:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#516B8C color

#516B8C rgb(81, 107, 140)

Shades of blue

The hex color #516B8C is a desaturated azure.

In the RGB color model it is made of 31.8% red, 42% green and 54.9% blue (81, 107, 140).

Its hue angle is 214°, with 27% saturation and 43% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 42% cyan, 24% magenta, 0% yellow and 45% black.

The closest named color is Clean Slate (#577396), a difference of 3.1 ΔE, a small difference.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 5.48:1).

#516B8C color codes

HEX	`#516B8C`
RGB	`rgb(81, 107, 140)`
RGB percent	`rgb(31.8%, 42%, 54.9%)`
HSL	`hsl(214, 27%, 43%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(214, 42%, 55%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(42%, 24%, 0%, 45%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(44.46, -0.47, -21.15)`
CIE LCH	`lch(44.46, 21.16, 268.72)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(13.383, 14.157, 26.833)`
Decimal	`5335948`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #516B8C, 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 #516B8C	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	3.83:1	Fail	Fail	Pass
Sample text	5.48:1	Pass	Fail	Pass

#516B8C as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	5.48:1	Pass	Fail	Pass
Sample text	3.83:1	Fail	Fail	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 #516B8C looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #516b8c; }
.text { color: #516b8c; }
.border { border: 2px solid #516b8c; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(81 107 140 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #516b8c, #55518c); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Slate Gray.

Questions

What color is #516B8C?: #516B8C is a desaturated azure, closest to the named color Clean Slate. It belongs to the blue family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #516B8C?: The RGB value is 81, 107, 140: 81 red, 107 green and 140 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #516B8C?: The complementary color is #8C7251, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #516B8C?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 3.83:1 and white text 5.48:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.