Arctic
Also known as: Thundercloud, Hammock, Gothic, Winter in Paris
Arctic brings a crisp and refreshing feel to any palette. This medium cyan is a natural fit for tech interfaces and water themes. Reach for a red companion shade to give Arctic maximum contrast. For accessible text, use it on black or near-black backgrounds (5.26:1, passes WCAG AA) rather than white.
Arctic color codes
- HEX
- #648589
- RGB
- rgb(100, 133, 137)
- RGBA
- rgba(100, 133, 137, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(186, 16%, 46%)
- HSV
- hsv(186, 27%, 54%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(27%, 3%, 0%, 46%)
- LAB
- lab(53.1 -11.3 -6.2)
- OKLCH
- oklch(59.3% 0.038 205.4)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
neutral, leaning cool
subtle cyan undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: cadetblue#5F9EA0 · ΔE 9.7
- RAL 7000 — Squirrel grey#7E8B92 · ΔE 8.4 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck — Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Arctic works
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively — dividers, chart series, illustration accents — and let neutrals carry the type.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land — front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: Works as a base layer or outerwear tone that lets brighter pieces do the talking.
- Branding: The safest brand-primary family there is; differentiate with an unexpected accent.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette — packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Arctic
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Arctic by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 3.99:1
AA failAAA failAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 5.26:1
AA passAAA failAA large pass
Best text color on a Arctic background: #000000
Palettes featuring Arctic
Arctic with its complement
Soft neighbors of Arctic
Arctic triad
Similar colors
- Thundercloud#698589 · ΔE 1.5
- Gothic#698890 · ΔE 2.7
- Catfish#657D82 · ΔE 3.8
- Horizon#648894 · ΔE 3.8
- Blue Blood#6B7F81 · ΔE 4.1
- Submerged#4A7D82 · ΔE 5.7
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Arctic is closest to Opium.
Arctic FAQs
What color is Arctic?
Arctic is a medium cyan with the hex code #648589. In HSL terms it has a hue of 186°, 16% saturation, and 46% lightness.
What is the hex code for Arctic?
The hex code for Arctic is #648589. In RGB it's rgb(100, 133, 137), and in CMYK it's cmyk(27%, 3%, 0%, 46%).
What colors go well with Arctic?
Arctic pairs naturally with red tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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