#DAE6E2 Hex Color
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Cool White is a bleached, pale teal with strong grey undertones. Because it sits at such a high lightness, it functions best as a clean, expansive background in minimal UI designs rather than a foreground element. The hex code #dae6e2 pairs exceptionally well with charcoal or deep slate, offering excellent contrast for black body text without the sterile feel of pure white.
About Cool White
Morning fog on a hospital window
What does cool white mean?
Cool White often reads as freshness and cleanliness, since pale green blues recall mist, sea glass, and scrubbed tile. Its near-grey saturation and high lightness make it feel faded and weightless, like light passing through frosted glass.
Where you see cool white
- sea glass
- hospital scrubs
- porcelain tile
- fresh linen
- mint frosting
- overcast sky over water
What it works for
It works well as a background in wellness apps, bathroom palettes, and anywhere a soft, clean wash is needed.
What colors go with cool white?
Charcoal #36454fDark charcoal grounds the pale wash and gives text a firm edge to sit on.Dusty Rose #b56f76Dusty rose warms the teal cast without breaking the faded, delicate mood.Walnut Brown #4c0400Walnut brown adds depth and keeps the light surface from feeling sterile.Coral #ff7f50Coral supplies a small jolt of warmth against the bleached cool base.Navy #000080Navy sharpens the grey-green cast and reads as crisp rather than washed out.
Questions about Cool White
What is the hex code for Cool White?
Cool White is #dae6e2. In RGB that is rgb(218, 230, 226), in HSL hsl(160, 19%, 88%) and in CMYK 5%, 0%, 2%, 10%.
How should I use #dae6e2 in UI design?
Use #dae6e2 as a soft, expansive background color to replace sterile pure white. It provides enough depth to anchor interface elements, especially when paired with charcoal or deep slate text for high-contrast, professional readability.
Does #dae6e2 feel like a warm or cool color?
The #dae6e2 hex color leans distinctly cool because of its subtle teal and grey undertones. Unlike warmer off-whites that feature yellow or cream bases, this color maintains a clinical, refreshing atmosphere that feels clean and modern.
Is Cool White readable on white or black?
Cool White has a 1.28:1 contrast ratio on white and 16.39:1 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.