Denim
Also known as: Once in a Blue Moon, Night in Manchester, Blue Blue, Absolute Zero
Quietly cool and professional, Denim is a cool-toned blue that earns its keep in SaaS products and finance apps. Because it leans cool, balancing it with a brown keeps a palette from feeling one-note. On white it reads clearly at 8.25:1 contrast — safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Denim color codes
- HEX
- #2243B6
- RGB
- rgb(34, 67, 182)
- RGBA
- rgba(34, 67, 182, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(227, 69%, 42%)
- HSV
- hsv(227, 81%, 71%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(81%, 63%, 0%, 29%)
- LAB
- lab(32.3 23.2 -65.5)
- OKLCH
- oklch(43.8% 0.186 266.1)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
cool
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: darkslateblue#483D8B · ΔE 8.7
- RAL 5005 — Signal blue#154889 · ΔE 7.8 · 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 Denim works
- Web & UI: Dark enough for body text and icons on white backgrounds — it passes WCAG AA as-is.
- 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: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent — pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Denim
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Denim 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 8.25:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 2.55:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Best text color on a Denim background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Denim
Denim with its complement
Soft neighbors of Denim
Denim triad
Similar colors
- Blue Hour#0034AB · ΔE 4.6
- Smalt#003399 · ΔE 6.0
- Bluebell#333399 · ΔE 6.4
- Blueberry#464196 · ΔE 6.5
- Dancing Sea#1C4D8F · ΔE 7.6
- Blurple#5539CC · ΔE 8.0
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Denim is closest to Olivary.
Denim FAQs
What color is Denim?
Denim is a medium blue with the hex code #2243B6. In HSL terms it has a hue of 227°, 69% saturation, and 42% lightness.
What is the hex code for Denim?
The hex code for Denim is #2243B6. In RGB it's rgb(34, 67, 182), and in CMYK it's cmyk(81%, 63%, 0%, 29%).
What colors go well with Denim?
Denim pairs naturally with brown tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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