What color is #555D8E?

#555D8E is a desaturated blue, closest to the named color Piccadilly Purple. It belongs to the blue family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #555D8E?

The RGB value is 85, 93, 142: 85 red, 93 green and 142 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #555D8E?

The complementary color is #8E8655, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #555D8E?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 3.34:1 and white text 6.28:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#555D8E color

#555D8E rgb(85, 93, 142)

Shades of blue

The hex color #555D8E is a desaturated blue.

In the RGB color model it is made of 33.3% red, 36.5% green and 55.7% blue (85, 93, 142).

Its hue angle is 232°, with 25% saturation and 45% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 40% cyan, 35% magenta, 0% yellow and 44% black.

The closest named color is Piccadilly Purple (#51588E), a difference of 1.9 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 6.28:1).

#555D8E color codes

HEX	`#555D8E`
RGB	`rgb(85, 93, 142)`
RGB percent	`rgb(33.3%, 36.5%, 55.7%)`
HSL	`hsl(232, 25%, 45%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(232, 40%, 56%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(40%, 35%, 0%, 44%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(40.76, 9.92, -28.08)`
CIE LCH	`lch(40.76, 29.78, 289.45)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(12.542, 11.712, 27.186)`
Decimal	`5594510`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #555D8E, 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 #555D8E	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	3.34:1	Fail	Fail	Pass
Sample text	6.28:1	Pass	Fail	Pass

#555D8E as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	6.28:1	Pass	Fail	Pass
Sample text	3.34:1	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 #555D8E looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #555d8e; }
.text { color: #555d8e; }
.border { border: 2px solid #555d8e; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(85 93 142 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #555d8e, #69558e); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Dark Slate Blue.

Questions

What color is #555D8E?: #555D8E is a desaturated blue, closest to the named color Piccadilly Purple. It belongs to the blue family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #555D8E?: The RGB value is 85, 93, 142: 85 red, 93 green and 142 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #555D8E?: The complementary color is #8E8655, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #555D8E?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 3.34:1 and white text 6.28:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.