Denim
Also known as: Once in a Blue Moon , Night in Manchester , Blue Blue , Absolute Zero
On screen, Denim registers as cool and professional: a medium blue at home 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.
Reference
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)
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: 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
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Denim
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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 Denim 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 8.25:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 2.55:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Denim background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Denim
Denim with its complement
Soft neighbors of Denim
Denim triad
Explore
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 .
FAQ
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.
Planning around this color? See everything that goes with Denim : 10 computed pairings with palettes.
Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer . Free, private, on your device.