Medium Blue
Commanding, professional blue with deep saturation
Medium Blue, defined by the hex code #0000cd, is a saturated, authoritative shade that commands attention. Its intense depth works well as a primary branding color in finance or law enforcement, where trust and stability are paramount. Because it is highly saturated, avoid using it as a full-page background to prevent eye strain. Instead, pair it with white text for high accessibility, as it achieves a solid 11.2:1 contrast ratio.
About Medium Blue
Streetlight glow on pavement at two in the morning
What does medium blue mean?
Deep blues commonly suggest authority, trust, and formality, which is why uniforms, flags, and official seals often use shades like this one. Almost no lightness but full saturation gives it a dense, glowing weight, like a light source seen through deep water.
Where you see medium blue
- ballpoint pen ink
- deep sea water
- police uniform jackets
- stained glass windows
- warning light filters
- navy wool coats
What it works for
Use it for backgrounds behind light text, evening or night themes, and accents that need to read as serious and cold.
What colors go with medium blue?
Mustard #ffdb58The yellow's warmth and dryness offset this color's cold, wet depth without softening it.Coral #ff7f50A warm red-orange sits opposite on the wheel, so both colors read stronger together.Mint #98ff98The pale green cools the pairing further and gives this dark shade room to breathe.Sand #e2ca76A neutral light ground keeps the blue dominant while warming the overall palette slightly.Burnt Sienna #a93400Earth red against deep blue is a classic painting pair with strong, workable tension.Cream #fffdd0Off-white text or shapes stay soft against the dark field instead of stark.
Questions about Medium Blue
What is the hex code for Medium Blue?
Medium Blue is #0000cd. In RGB that is rgb(0, 0, 205), in HSL hsl(240, 100%, 40%) and in CMYK 100%, 100%, 0%, 20%.
Is this color suitable for large backgrounds?
Avoid using #0000cd as a full-page background because its high saturation and intensity often cause significant eye strain for readers. Instead, use this shade as an accent color for buttons, call-to-action elements, or specific headers to anchor user attention.
Is Medium Blue readable on white or black?
Medium Blue has a 11.16:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.88:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.