Cerulean
Also known as: Blue Jeans , Adamantine Blue , Xed , Acapulco Dive
Cerulean is a soft, vivid blue that reads as cool and professional. It earns its place in SaaS products and finance apps. Set it against a orange accent when you want the combination to pop. Against dark backgrounds it stays legible (8.37:1), but avoid it as text on white.
Reference
Cerulean color codes
- HEX
- #55AAEE
- RGB
- rgb(85, 170, 238)
- RGBA
- rgba(85, 170, 238, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(207, 82%, 63%)
- HSV
- hsv(207, 64%, 93%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(64%, 29%, 0%, 7%)
- LAB
- lab(66.5 -10.8 -42.5)
- OKLCH
- oklch(71.4% 0.129 245.2)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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cool
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: dodgerblue #1E90FF · ΔE 8.3
- RAL 5024: Pastel blue #6A93B0 · ΔE 10.2 · 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 Cerulean works
- Web & UI: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent. Pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
- Branding: Sits in the trust register: a natural primary for finance, health, and B2B brands.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Cerulean
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Cerulean by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 2.51:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 8.37:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Cerulean background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Cerulean
Cerulean with its complement
Soft neighbors of Cerulean
Cerulean triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Windjammer #62A5DF · ΔE 2.4
- High Blue #4CA8E0 · ΔE 3.1
- Sub-Zero #57A1CE · ΔE 5.0
- Cousteau #55A9D6 · ΔE 5.1
- Thalassophile #44AADD · ΔE 5.1
- High Seas #7DABD8 · ΔE 5.3
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Cerulean is closest to Caramelise .
FAQ
Cerulean FAQs
What color is Cerulean?
Cerulean is a medium blue with the hex code #55AAEE. In HSL terms it has a hue of 207°, 82% saturation, and 63% lightness.
What is the hex code for Cerulean?
The hex code for Cerulean is #55AAEE. In RGB it's rgb(85, 170, 238), and in CMYK it's cmyk(64%, 29%, 0%, 7%).
What colors go well with Cerulean?
Cerulean pairs naturally with orange tones from its complementary harmony, and with pink accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
Planning around this color? See everything that goes with Cerulean : 10 computed pairings with palettes.
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