#488BA8 Hex Color

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Hex color #488ba8 graphic
This muted, cool blue balances professionalism with a sense of accessibility. Because #488ba8 is sufficiently dark, it works well as a primary background for small body text when paired with black. Avoid overusing it in large, flat blocks, as it can feel a bit industrial. Instead, use this hex code as a reliable supporting tone in UI design to create a sense of structure and clarity.

Questions about #488ba8

What is #488ba8 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #488ba8 is rgb(72, 139, 168), in HSL hsl(198, 40%, 47%) and in CMYK 57%, 17%, 0%, 34%.
How should I use #488ba8 in professional UI design?
This muted blue provides a stable foundation for secondary UI elements, acting as an excellent alternative to standard grays. Use #488ba8 to build structure in navigation bars or sidebar components where you need professional clarity without overwhelming the user with vibrant color.
What colors pair well with the cool tone of #488ba8?
Because #488ba8 possesses a muted, industrial quality, it pairs beautifully with high-contrast charcoal for text or softer cream tones for backgrounds. These pairings ground the blue, keeping your layouts readable while maintaining a modern, sophisticated aesthetic across your interfaces.
Is #488ba8 readable on white or black?
#488ba8 has a 3.79:1 contrast ratio on white and 5.53:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold) and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.