Cold Wave
Also known as: Cold Well Water, Poolside, Aqua Whisper, Right as Rain
Quietly cool and clear, Cold Wave is a cool-toned cyan that earns its keep in healthcare apps and modern branding. Cold Wave plays well with red tones — the harmonies below show exactly which ones. Accessibility-wise, it needs a dark backdrop — 15.28:1 on black clears AA.
Cold Wave color codes
- HEX
- #C2E2E3
- RGB
- rgb(194, 226, 227)
- RGBA
- rgba(194, 226, 227, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(182, 37%, 83%)
- HSV
- hsv(182, 15%, 89%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(15%, 0%, 0%, 11%)
- LAB
- lab(87.6 -10.7 -4.2)
- OKLCH
- oklch(89.0% 0.034 198.9)
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: powderblue#B0E0E6 · ΔE 4.0
- RAL 7035 — Light grey#CBD0CC · ΔE 9.8 · 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 Cold Wave 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: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: The safest brand-primary family there is; differentiate with an unexpected accent.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette — packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Cold Wave
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Cold Wave 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 1.37:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Aa — on black
contrast 15.28:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Best text color on a Cold Wave background: #000000
Palettes featuring Cold Wave
Cold Wave with its complement
Soft neighbors of Cold Wave
Cold Wave triad
Similar colors
- Poolside#BEE0E2 · ΔE 0.8
- Peek-a-Blue#C5E1E1 · ΔE 1.1
- Swimming#C2E5E5 · ΔE 1.1
- Swan Lake#C5E5E2 · ΔE 1.9
- Icy Breeze#C4ECF0 · ΔE 2.9
- Teardrop#D1EAEA · ΔE 2.9
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Cold Wave is closest to Ballet.
Cold Wave FAQs
What color is Cold Wave?
Cold Wave is a light cyan with the hex code #C2E2E3. In HSL terms it has a hue of 182°, 37% saturation, and 83% lightness.
What is the hex code for Cold Wave?
The hex code for Cold Wave is #C2E2E3. In RGB it's rgb(194, 226, 227), and in CMYK it's cmyk(15%, 0%, 0%, 11%).
What colors go well with Cold Wave?
Cold Wave pairs naturally with red 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.
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