What color is #538A8E?

#538A8E is a desaturated cyan, closest to the named color Paradiso. It belongs to the teal family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #538A8E?

The RGB value is 83, 138, 142: 83 red, 138 green and 142 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #538A8E?

The complementary color is #8E5753, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #538A8E?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 5.39:1 and white text 3.89:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#538A8E color

#538A8E rgb(83, 138, 142)

Shades of teal

The hex color #538A8E is a desaturated cyan.

In the RGB color model it is made of 32.5% red, 54.1% green and 55.7% blue (83, 138, 142).

Its hue angle is 184°, with 26% saturation and 44% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 42% cyan, 3% magenta, 0% yellow and 44% black.

The closest named color is Paradiso (#488084), a difference of 3.9 ΔE, a small difference.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 5.39:1).

#538A8E color codes

HEX	`#538A8E`
RGB	`rgb(83, 138, 142)`
RGB percent	`rgb(32.5%, 54.1%, 55.7%)`
HSL	`hsl(184, 26%, 44%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(184, 42%, 56%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(42%, 3%, 0%, 44%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(53.99, -17.05, -7.86)`
CIE LCH	`lch(53.99, 18.77, 204.75)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(17.536, 21.968, 28.902)`
Decimal	`5474958`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #538A8E, 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 #538A8E	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	5.39:1	Pass	Fail	Pass
Sample text	3.89:1	Fail	Fail	Pass

#538A8E as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	3.89:1	Fail	Fail	Pass
Sample text	5.39:1	Pass	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 #538A8E looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #538a8e; }
.text { color: #538a8e; }
.border { border: 2px solid #538a8e; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(83 138 142 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #538a8e, #536d8e); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Questions

What color is #538A8E?: #538A8E is a desaturated cyan, closest to the named color Paradiso. It belongs to the teal family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #538A8E?: The RGB value is 83, 138, 142: 83 red, 138 green and 142 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #538A8E?: The complementary color is #8E5753, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #538A8E?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 5.39:1 and white text 3.89:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.