Purple color · XKCD survey name
Dark Lavender Color Code: #856798
The HEX code for Dark Lavender is #856798. It is a medium, muted violet color made of 133 red, 103 green and 152 blue (HSL 277°, 19%, 50%). White text reads comfortably on it (4.78:1 contrast).
Dark Lavender color values
#856798
rgb(133, 103, 152)
hsl(277, 19%, 50%)
277, 32%, 60%
hwb(277 40% 40%)
12%, 32%, 0%, 40%
8742808
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Dark Lavender?
“Dark Lavender” 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 277° places it in the violet part of the color wheel, with 19% saturation (muted) and 50% lightness (medium). It sits between warm and cool.
Compared with the other purple colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 43% of them and more saturated than 3% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.170, which makes it a mid-tone color. That is below the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so white text has the advantage.
Dark Lavender counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.170. White text reads comfortably on it (4.78:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Dark Lavender
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 4.78:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 4.39:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Dark Lavender
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 Dark Lavender
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 Dark Lavender
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (4.78:1 contrast)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Premium-feeling accents and gradients
- Illustrations and hero sections
- Tags, badges and highlights
Use Dark Lavender in CSS
:root {
--color-dark-lavender: #856798;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-dark-lavender);
background-color: #856798;
border: 2px solid #856798;
}Questions about Dark Lavender
What is the HEX code for Dark Lavender?
Dark Lavender is #856798.
What is the RGB value of Dark Lavender?
The RGB value of Dark Lavender is 133, 103, 152: 133 red, 103 green and 152 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(133, 103, 152) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Dark Lavender?
The HSL value of Dark Lavender is 277°, 19%, 50% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(277, 19%, 50%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Dark Lavender?
A standard conversion gives about C 12%, M 32%, Y 0%, K 40%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Dark Lavender a light or dark color?
Dark Lavender counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.170. White text reads comfortably on it (4.78:1 contrast).
How does Dark Lavender look with white text?
White text on Dark Lavender has a contrast ratio of 4.78:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Dark Lavender look with black text?
Black text on Dark Lavender has a contrast ratio of 4.39:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Dark Lavender?
Gray Green is its complementary color, and Dusk sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Dark Lavender be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (4.78:1 contrast); calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements; large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough.
How do I use Dark Lavender in CSS?
Use color: #856798; for text, background-color: #856798; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-dark-lavender: #856798; and reuse it with var(--color-dark-lavender).
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.