#85B5E0 Hex Color
Online color picker to view shades, tints, color codes, and complementary colors
This unsaturated pastel blue feels fresh and cool, offering a clean backdrop for UI design. Because #85b5e0 has excellent contrast against black text, it works well as a primary background color for web applications. Avoid pairing it with stark white, as it can look washed out. Instead, combine this hex code with darker slate grays to create a professional, reliable, and approachable interface.
Questions about #85b5e0
What is #85b5e0 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #85b5e0 is rgb(133, 181, 224), in HSL hsl(208, 59%, 70%) and in CMYK 41%, 19%, 0%, 12%.
What colors pair best with #85b5e0?
#85b5e0 works best with deeper, muted tones rather than stark white. Pair it with charcoal or deep slate grays to build strong contrast for text, ensuring the interface remains professional and easy to read.
Why does #85b5e0 feel professional for UI design?
This shade of blue is unsaturated and cool, which creates a sense of reliability and calm. Because it maintains good contrast against dark text, it serves as an excellent, non-distracting background for modern web applications.
Is #85b5e0 readable on white or black?
#85b5e0 has a 2.16:1 contrast ratio on white and 9.68:1 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.