Blue color · XKCD survey name
Cerulean Color Code: #0485D1
Cerulean is a medium-dark, vivid azure color with the hexadecimal value #0485D1. In RGB it is 4, 133, 209 and in HSL it is 202°, 96%, 42%. Black text reads best on it (5.28:1 contrast).
Cerulean color values
#0485D1
rgb(4, 133, 209)
hsl(202, 96%, 42%)
202, 98%, 82%
hwb(202 2% 18%)
98%, 36%, 0%, 18%
296401
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Cerulean?
“Cerulean” is a crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey, in which participants typed names for colors they were shown. It is a popular everyday label rather than an official standard.
Its hue angle of 202° places it in the azure part of the color wheel, with 96% saturation (vivid) and 42% lightness (medium-dark). It is a cool color.
Compared with the other blue colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 38% of them and more saturated than 62% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.214, which makes it a mid-tone color. That is above the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so black text has the advantage.
Cerulean counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 42% and its relative luminance is 0.214. Black text reads best on it (5.28:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Cerulean
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 3.97:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.28:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Cerulean
Complementary color
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They give the strongest hue contrast, which suits calls to action and accents.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors are neighbors on the wheel, 30° either side of the base hue. They blend smoothly and are easy to combine in backgrounds, gradients and illustrations.
Triadic colors
A triadic scheme uses three hues spaced 120° apart. It is lively yet balanced, and works best when one color leads and the other two act as accents.
Split-complementary colors
Split-complementary keeps the base color and uses the two colors on either side of its complement (150° and 210°). The contrast is strong but gentler than a direct complement.
Tetradic colors
A tetradic (rectangle) scheme combines two complementary pairs at 0°, 60°, 180° and 240°. It offers variety but needs one dominant color to stay balanced.
Monochromatic variants
Monochromatic variants keep the same hue and saturation and only change lightness, which makes them dependable for UI scales and subtle layered designs.
A “≈” before a name means the exact harmony color has no named match, so the link goes to the closest named color.
Tints and shades of Cerulean
Lighter tints (mixed with white)
Darker shades (mixed with black)
Select any swatch to copy its HEX code. Build longer scales with the tints and shades tool.
Similar colors
Where to use Cerulean
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.28:1 contrast with black)
- Accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Links, buttons and primary interface accents
- Corporate, finance and software branding
- Headers and navigation bars
Use Cerulean in CSS
:root {
--color-cerulean: #0485D1;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-cerulean);
background-color: #0485D1;
border: 2px solid #0485D1;
}Questions about Cerulean
What is the HEX code for Cerulean?
Cerulean is #0485D1.
What is the RGB value of Cerulean?
The RGB value of Cerulean is 4, 133, 209: 4 red, 133 green and 209 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(4, 133, 209) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Cerulean?
The HSL value of Cerulean is 202°, 96%, 42% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(202, 96%, 42%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Cerulean?
A standard conversion gives about C 98%, M 36%, Y 0%, K 18%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Cerulean a light or dark color?
Cerulean counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 42% and its relative luminance is 0.214. Black text reads best on it (5.28:1 contrast).
How does Cerulean look with white text?
White text on Cerulean has a contrast ratio of 3.97:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Cerulean look with black text?
Black text on Cerulean has a contrast ratio of 5.28:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Cerulean?
Rusty Orange is its complementary color, and Turquoise sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Cerulean be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.28:1 contrast with black); accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations; large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough.
How do I use Cerulean in CSS?
Use color: #0485D1; for text, background-color: #0485D1; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-cerulean: #0485D1; and reuse it with var(--color-cerulean).
About this color page
Crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey (CC0). Values are calculated from the HEX code; color names are labels, not trademarks or standards unless stated. Screens render colors differently, so always check important colors on your own device. See the disclaimer.