What color is #556D9E?

#556D9E is a desaturated blue, closest to the named color Clean Slate. It belongs to the blue family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #556D9E?

The RGB value is 85, 109, 158: 85 red, 109 green and 158 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #556D9E?

The complementary color is #9E8655, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #556D9E?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 4.07:1 and white text 5.16:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#556D9E color

#556D9E rgb(85, 109, 158)

Shades of blue

The hex color #556D9E is a desaturated blue.

In the RGB color model it is made of 33.3% red, 42.7% green and 62% blue (85, 109, 158).

Its hue angle is 220°, with 30% saturation and 48% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 46% cyan, 31% magenta, 0% yellow and 38% black.

The closest named color is Clean Slate (#577396), a difference of 3.8 ΔE, a small difference.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 5.16:1).

#556D9E color codes

HEX	`#556D9E`
RGB	`rgb(85, 109, 158)`
RGB percent	`rgb(33.3%, 42.7%, 62%)`
HSL	`hsl(220, 30%, 48%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(220, 46%, 62%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(46%, 31%, 0%, 38%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(46.09, 4.86, -29.28)`
CIE LCH	`lch(46.09, 29.68, 279.42)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(15.385, 15.336, 34.491)`
Decimal	`5598622`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #556D9E, 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 #556D9E	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	4.07:1	Fail	Fail	Pass
Sample text	5.16:1	Pass	Fail	Pass

#556D9E as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	5.16:1	Pass	Fail	Pass
Sample text	4.07:1	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 #556D9E looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #556d9e; }
.text { color: #556d9e; }
.border { border: 2px solid #556d9e; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(85 109 158 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #556d9e, #61559e); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Denim.

Questions

What color is #556D9E?: #556D9E is a desaturated blue, closest to the named color Clean Slate. It belongs to the blue family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #556D9E?: The RGB value is 85, 109, 158: 85 red, 109 green and 158 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #556D9E?: The complementary color is #9E8655, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #556D9E?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 4.07:1 and white text 5.16:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.