Helium
Also known as: Elusive White , White Silence , Stocking White , Marzipan White
Helium holds a pale position in the orange range and reads as warm and inviting. You'll see it used for autumn palettes and friendly UI accents. Set it against a blue accent when you want the combination to pop. For accessible text, use it on black or near-black backgrounds (16.70:1, passes WCAG AA) rather than white.
Reference
Helium color codes
- HEX
- #EAE5D8
- RGB
- rgb(234, 229, 216)
- RGBA
- rgba(234, 229, 216, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(43, 30%, 88%)
- HSV
- hsv(43, 8%, 92%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 2%, 8%, 8%)
- LAB
- lab(91.1 0.1 7.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(92.2% 0.018 89.4)
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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neutral, leaning warm
subtle yellow undertone in this near-neutral
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: oldlace #FDF5E6 · ΔE 3.7
- RAL 9001: Cream #EFEBDC · ΔE 1.6 · 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 Helium works
- Web & UI: A natural surface tint: use it for cards, section backgrounds, or hover states instead of flat white.
- Interiors: A softer alternative to builder's white for walls, trim, or ceilings. It turns warmer under evening light.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Interiors: Soft and low-saturation: a candidate for full walls, where vivid colors overwhelm.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Helium
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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 Helium 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 1.26:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 16.70:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Helium background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Helium
Helium with its complement
Soft neighbors of Helium
Helium triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Creamy #EFE8DB · ΔE 1.2
- Hourglass #E5E0D5 · ΔE 1.4
- Palladian #EEE9DF · ΔE 1.6
- Mascarpone #ECE6D4 · ΔE 2.0
- Foggy Day #E7E3DB · ΔE 2.2
- Bianca #F4EFE0 · ΔE 2.3
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Helium is closest to Cotton Boll .
FAQ
Helium FAQs
What color is Helium?
Helium is a light orange with the hex code #EAE5D8. In HSL terms it has a hue of 43°, 30% saturation, and 88% lightness.
What is the hex code for Helium?
The hex code for Helium is #EAE5D8. In RGB it's rgb(234, 229, 216), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 2%, 8%, 8%).
What colors go well with Helium?
Helium pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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