Blue color · CSS named color
Steel Blue Color Code: #4682B4
Steel Blue (#4682B4) is a medium, soft azure shade: RGB 70, 130, 180, HSL 207°, 44%, 49%. Black text reads best on it (5.11:1 contrast).
Steel Blue color values
#4682B4
rgb(70, 130, 180)
hsl(207, 44%, 49%)
207, 61%, 71%
hwb(207 27% 29%)
61%, 28%, 0%, 29%
4620980
steelblue
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Steel Blue?
Steel Blue is one of the named colors defined by the CSS Color specifications (keyword “steelblue”), so every modern browser understands it without a hex code.
Its hue angle of 207° places it in the azure part of the color wheel, with 44% saturation (soft) and 49% lightness (medium). It is a cool color.
Compared with the other blue colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 53% of them and more saturated than 18% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.206, 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.
Steel Blue counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.206. Black text reads best on it (5.11:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Steel Blue
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 4.10:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.11:1 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 Steel 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 Steel 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 Steel Blue
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.11:1 contrast with black)
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Charts and dashboards
- Links, buttons and primary interface accents
- Corporate, finance and software branding
- Headers and navigation bars
Steel Blue appears in these curated palettes: Deep Ocean (Blue Color Palettes), Denim and Leather (Blue Color Palettes).
Use Steel Blue in CSS
:root {
--color-steel-blue: #4682B4;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-steel-blue);
background-color: #4682B4;
border: 2px solid #4682B4;
}Questions about Steel Blue
What is the HEX code for Steel Blue?
Steel Blue is #4682B4.
What is the RGB value of Steel Blue?
The RGB value of Steel Blue is 70, 130, 180: 70 red, 130 green and 180 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(70, 130, 180) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Steel Blue?
The HSL value of Steel Blue is 207°, 44%, 49% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(207, 44%, 49%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Steel Blue?
A standard conversion gives about C 61%, M 28%, Y 0%, K 29%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Steel Blue a light or dark color?
Steel Blue counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 49% and its relative luminance is 0.206. Black text reads best on it (5.11:1 contrast).
How does Steel Blue look with white text?
White text on Steel Blue has a contrast ratio of 4.10:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Steel Blue look with black text?
Black text on Steel Blue has a contrast ratio of 5.11:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Steel Blue?
Clay Brown is its complementary color, and Light Sea Green sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Steel Blue be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.11:1 contrast with black); large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough; charts and dashboards.
How do I use Steel Blue in CSS?
Use color: #4682B4; for text, background-color: #4682B4; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-steel-blue: #4682B4; and reuse it with var(--color-steel-blue).
About this color page
CSS named color (W3C CSS Color Module). 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.