What color is #556E85?

#556E85 is a grayish azure, closest to the named color Plumbeous. It belongs to the blue family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #556E85?

The RGB value is 85, 110, 133: 85 red, 110 green and 133 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #556E85?

The complementary color is #856C55, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #556E85?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 3.96:1 and white text 5.31:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#556E85 color

#556E85 rgb(85, 110, 133)

Shades of blue

The hex color #556E85 is a grayish azure.

In the RGB color model it is made of 33.3% red, 43.1% green and 52.2% blue (85, 110, 133).

Its hue angle is 209°, with 22% saturation and 43% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 36% cyan, 17% magenta, 0% yellow and 48% black.

The closest named color is Plumbeous (#5C7287), a difference of 1.9 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 5.31:1).

#556E85 color codes

HEX	`#556E85`
RGB	`rgb(85, 110, 133)`
RGB percent	`rgb(33.3%, 43.1%, 52.2%)`
HSL	`hsl(209, 22%, 43%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(209, 36%, 52%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(36%, 17%, 0%, 48%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(45.33, -3.11, -15.62)`
CIE LCH	`lch(45.33, 15.93, 258.75)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(13.555, 14.776, 24.324)`
Decimal	`5598853`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #556E85, 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 #556E85	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	3.96:1	Fail	Fail	Pass
Sample text	5.31:1	Pass	Fail	Pass

#556E85 as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	5.31:1	Pass	Fail	Pass
Sample text	3.96:1	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 #556E85 looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #556e85; }
.text { color: #556e85; }
.border { border: 2px solid #556e85; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(85 110 133 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #556e85, #555685); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Slate Gray.

Questions

What color is #556E85?: #556E85 is a grayish azure, closest to the named color Plumbeous. It belongs to the blue family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #556E85?: The RGB value is 85, 110, 133: 85 red, 110 green and 133 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #556E85?: The complementary color is #856C55, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #556E85?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 3.96:1 and white text 5.31:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.