#868D9E Hex Color
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This dusty, grey-toned blue feels understated and restrained. Because it is highly muted, #868d9e functions best as a neutral background for professional tech or finance interfaces. Black text remains highly readable over this shade, easily meeting accessibility standards for small body copy. Pair it with warm, desaturated charcoals for a sophisticated, modern palette. The hex code for this ashy blue is #868d9e.
Questions about #868d9e
What is #868d9e in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #868d9e is rgb(134, 141, 158), in HSL hsl(222, 11%, 57%) and in CMYK 15%, 11%, 0%, 38%.
What colors pair best with the ashy tone of #868d9e?
Because #868d9e is a cool, muted blue, it pairs exceptionally well with warm, desaturated charcoal or deep slate tones. These neutrals provide enough contrast to keep your interface clean and sophisticated without overwhelming the subtle character of the primary blue.
Is #868d9e a suitable background for black text?
Yes, #868d9e is a safe choice for UI design when paired with black or dark grey text. Its mid-tone lightness ensures that standard body copy remains highly legible, consistently meeting basic web accessibility contrast standards for professional digital products.
Is #868d9e readable on white or black?
#868d9e has a 3.32:1 contrast ratio on white and 6.31:1 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.