What color is #55A0BB?

#55A0BB is a desaturated azure, closest to the named color Surgical. It belongs to the blue family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #55A0BB?

The RGB value is 85, 160, 187: 85 red, 160 green and 187 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #55A0BB?

The complementary color is #BB7055, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #55A0BB?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 7.13:1 and white text 2.94:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#55A0BB color

#55A0BB rgb(85, 160, 187)

Shades of blue

The hex color #55A0BB is a desaturated azure.

In the RGB color model it is made of 33.3% red, 62.7% green and 73.3% blue (85, 160, 187).

Its hue angle is 196°, with 43% saturation and 53% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 55% cyan, 14% magenta, 0% yellow and 27% black.

The closest named color is Surgical (#59A4C1), a difference of 1.5 ΔE, which is barely visible.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 7.13:1).

#55A0BB color codes

HEX	`#55A0BB`
RGB	`rgb(85, 160, 187)`
RGB percent	`rgb(33.3%, 62.7%, 73.3%)`
HSL	`hsl(196, 43%, 53%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(196, 55%, 73%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(55%, 14%, 0%, 27%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(62.22, -15.58, -21.06)`
CIE LCH	`lch(62.22, 26.2, 233.5)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(25.283, 30.659, 51.589)`
Decimal	`5611707`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #55A0BB, 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 #55A0BB	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	7.13:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.94:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

#55A0BB as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.94:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	7.13:1	Pass	Pass	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 #55A0BB looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #55a0bb; }
.text { color: #55a0bb; }
.border { border: 2px solid #55a0bb; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(85 160 187 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #55a0bb, #556dbb); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Carolina Blue.

Questions

What color is #55A0BB?: #55A0BB is a desaturated azure, closest to the named color Surgical. It belongs to the blue family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #55A0BB?: The RGB value is 85, 160, 187: 85 red, 160 green and 187 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #55A0BB?: The complementary color is #BB7055, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #55A0BB?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 7.13:1 and white text 2.94:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.