#42B5B3 Hex Color
A cool cyan with softened energy
#42b5b3 is a moderately muted cyan with a cool, green-leaning undertone and medium lightness. Its softened saturation feels refreshing and youthful without becoming sugary, making it useful for technology, children’s products, spring layouts, and communication-focused interfaces. As a hex code, #42b5b3 works well as a supporting color, while black text reaches about 8.5:1 contrast.
Questions about #42b5b3
What is #42b5b3 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #42b5b3 is rgb(66, 181, 179), in HSL hsl(179, 47%, 48%) and in CMYK 64%, 0%, 1%, 29%.
What colors pair well with #42b5b3 in a design palette?
Pair #42b5b3 with charcoal for readable structure, warm coral for a lively accent, or pale sand for a softer editorial palette. Its moderate saturation supports contrast without competing with neighboring colors, so it works best as a supporting tone rather than a dominant backdrop.
Is #42b5b3 readable on white or black?
#42b5b3 has a 2.47:1 contrast ratio on white and 8.49:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it is too faint for text and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.