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Light Blue#ADD8E6

Light Blue color code is #ADD8E6. Use this page to get all code formats, explore shades and tints, and find colors that work with light blue.

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Explore Light Blue

Light Blue Accessibility & WCAG Contrast

Relative luminance of Light Blue is 0.6371. Its WCAG contrast ratio is 1.53:1 against white and 13.74:1 against black. Use the card with the higher ratio for body text.

The quick brown fox
Light Blue on white1.53:1Fail
The quick brown fox
Light Blue on black13.74:1AAA
The quick brown fox
White on Light Blue1.53:1Fail
The quick brown fox
Black on Light Blue13.74:1AAA

Light Blue — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for Light Blue?+
The hex code for Light Blue is #ADD8E6. In RGB it's rgb(173, 216, 230), and in HSL it's hsl(195, 53%, 79%).
What is the RGB value of Light Blue?+
Light Blue in RGB is (173, 216, 230). Written in CSS: rgb(173, 216, 230).
What is the CMYK value of Light Blue?+
Light Blue converts to CMYK(25%, 6%, 0%, 10%) for print. Hex equivalent is #ADD8E6.
Is light blue a warm or cool color?+
Light Blue (#ADD8E6) is a cool cyan — its hue sits at 195° on the color wheel, placing it in the cool part of the spectrum.
What color family does light blue belong to?+
Light Blue belongs to the cyan family. Its HSL is 195°, 53%, 79% — a cool tone within the broader cyan group.
Is light blue accessible for body text on a white background?+
Light Blue on white reaches a WCAG contrast ratio of 1.53:1 — below the AA threshold (4.5:1) for normal body text. Reserve for large headings or pair with a darker variant.
What is the closest Pantone match for light blue?+
The nearest Pantone match for Light Blue (#ADD8E6) is 317 C Pantone 317 C, calculated by Euclidean RGB distance over the Pantone Matching System.

How to use Light Blue in design

Practical guidance for using light blue (#ADD8E6) across four design contexts, derived from its hue, lightness, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

Web & UI design

Light Blue (#ADD8E6) works well as a background color in dark UIs or as a button fill paired with white text — at 13.7:1 against black it's AAA-accessible for body text reversed onto it. Don't use it for text on a white background; 1.5:1 contrast won't pass AA.

Branding & identity

As a brand color, Light Blue (#ADD8E6) reads as balanced and approachable and approachable and modern. It fits naturally into tech, water, cleaning, summer/youthful brands. Pair it with a higher-contrast accent (warm if cyan runs cool, cool if it runs warm) for visual hierarchy. Test legibility on both your logo and small UI text before locking it in — saturation that works on a 200px logo can feel overpowering at favicon scale.

Fashion & apparel

Light Blue flatters cool-leaning skin tones (pink, rosy, blue undertones) and works best in autumn/winter collections. Pair it with cool neutrals (charcoal, slate, off-white, black) and it works as a sophisticated alternative to navy. Pale cool tones flatter most skin types in good light — a safe choice for office wear and weddings.

Interior design

Light Blue works as either a primary wall color or a strong accent — versatile across most rooms. As a wall color it pairs with white trim and warm wood; as an accent (sofa, chair, large art) it lifts a neutral room without overwhelming it. Test a large swatch against your room's natural light at three times of day before committing — mid-tone colors shift more than light or dark colors do.