#8E97AE Hex Color
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This dusty, desaturated blue offers a grounded, serious alternative to standard navy. With strong gray undertones, #8e97ae functions best as a supporting color in corporate or tech interfaces. It pairs perfectly with black text, as the contrast ratio hits 7.2:1 for excellent readability. Avoid using it as a primary background, as it can appear washed out. The hex code for this shade is #8e97ae.
Questions about #8e97ae
What is #8e97ae in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #8e97ae is rgb(142, 151, 174), in HSL hsl(223, 16%, 62%) and in CMYK 18%, 13%, 0%, 32%.
Is #8e97ae a warm or cool blue?
#8e97ae is firmly a cool, desaturated blue that leans toward gray rather than vibrant primary tones. Because it lacks saturation, it avoids the artificial feel of brighter blues, making it a sophisticated choice for professional design systems and corporate branding.
What colors pair well with #8e97ae?
#8e97ae works exceptionally well when balanced against high-contrast neutrals like charcoal or deep black, as it provides a subtle, calming shift without losing legibility. For a softer palette, try pairing it with muted creams or off-whites to maintain its grounded, serious character.
Is #8e97ae readable on white or black?
#8e97ae has a 2.92:1 contrast ratio on white and 7.18:1 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.