#DFE5E8 Hex Color
A cool and airy pale grey
This pale, airy grey carries a subtle blue tint that keeps it from feeling sterile. It acts as an excellent neutral base for minimalist interfaces, providing enough contrast to make black typography highly readable. Because #dfe5e8 is so desaturated, pair it with charcoal or deep navy to anchor your composition. Avoid using it alongside pure white, as it can appear washed out and muddy.
Questions about #dfe5e8
What is #dfe5e8 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #dfe5e8 is rgb(223, 229, 232), in HSL hsl(200, 16%, 89%) and in CMYK 4%, 1%, 0%, 9%.
How should I use #dfe5e8 in my design projects?
#dfe5e8 works best as a neutral, calming background for modern, clean interfaces. Because of its pale intensity, it is essential to pair it with dark typography like charcoal or deep navy to ensure text remains perfectly legible.
Why does #dfe5e8 look muddy when placed next to white?
Placing #dfe5e8 directly against pure white often creates a washed-out effect because the colors lack sufficient contrast. The blue undertones in this grey become visually dulled rather than enhanced, which makes the overall design composition feel slightly unclear or unpolished.
Is #dfe5e8 readable on white or black?
#dfe5e8 has a 1.27:1 contrast ratio on white and 16.51:1 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.