Blue color · XKCD survey name
Gray Blue Color Code: #6B8BA4
The HEX code for Gray Blue is #6B8BA4. It is a medium, muted azure color made of 107 red, 139 green and 164 blue (HSL 206°, 24%, 53%). Black text reads best on it (5.85:1 contrast).
Also spelled “Grey Blue”.
Gray Blue color values
#6B8BA4
rgb(107, 139, 164)
hsl(206, 24%, 53%)
206, 35%, 64%
hwb(206 42% 36%)
35%, 15%, 0%, 36%
7048100
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Gray Blue?
“Gray Blue” 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 206° places it in the azure part of the color wheel, with 24% saturation (muted) and 53% lightness (medium). It is a cool color.
Compared with the other blue colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 65% of them and more saturated than 1% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.243, 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.
Gray Blue counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 53% and its relative luminance is 0.243. Black text reads best on it (5.85:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Gray Blue
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 3.58:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.85:1 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 Gray Blue
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 Gray Blue
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 Gray Blue
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.85:1 contrast with black)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- 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 Gray Blue in CSS
:root {
--color-gray-blue: #6B8BA4;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-gray-blue);
background-color: #6B8BA4;
border: 2px solid #6B8BA4;
}Questions about Gray Blue
What is the HEX code for Gray Blue?
Gray Blue is #6B8BA4.
What is the RGB value of Gray Blue?
The RGB value of Gray Blue is 107, 139, 164: 107 red, 139 green and 164 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(107, 139, 164) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Gray Blue?
The HSL value of Gray Blue is 206°, 24%, 53% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(206, 24%, 53%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Gray Blue?
A standard conversion gives about C 35%, M 15%, Y 0%, K 36%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Gray Blue a light or dark color?
Gray Blue counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 53% and its relative luminance is 0.243. Black text reads best on it (5.85:1 contrast).
How does Gray Blue look with white text?
White text on Gray Blue has a contrast ratio of 3.58:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Gray Blue look with black text?
Black text on Gray Blue has a contrast ratio of 5.85:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Gray Blue?
Pale Brown is its complementary color, and Cadet Blue sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Gray Blue be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.85:1 contrast with black); 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 Gray Blue in CSS?
Use color: #6B8BA4; for text, background-color: #6B8BA4; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-gray-blue: #6B8BA4; and reuse it with var(--color-gray-blue).
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.