Dark Blue

HEX: #00008B | Modern Palette

On White
15.30:1
PASS
On Black
1.37:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#00008B
RGB
0, 0, 139
HSL
240°, 100% ,54%
CMYK
100, 100, 0, 45.49

About Dark Blue

Dark Blue (#00008B) is a color with RGB(0, 0, 139) and HSL(240°, 100%, 54.51%). It is commonly associated with Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #8B8B00, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes Dark Red (#8B0000) and #008B00. The name comes from Dark Blue (English).

  • HEX: #00008B
  • RGB: 0, 0, 139
  • HSL: 240°, 100%, 54.51%
  • Mood: Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #8B8B00
  • Triadic colors: Dark Red (#8B0000), #008B00
  • The name comes from Dark Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Dark Blue #00008B is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
DARK BLUE
BLUE
VERY LIGHT BLUE
LAVENDER BLUE
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
DARK BLUE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
BLUE
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Dark Blue #00008B pairs with #8B8B00 as its complementary color, and Dark Red (#8B0000) and #008B00 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

DARK BLUE
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

DARK BLUE
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

DARK BLUE
DARK RED
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

DARK BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

DARK BLUE
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

DARK BLUE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Dark Blue #00008B moves from dark #00001A tones through the base color to lighter #E6E6FF tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

DARK BLUE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold
Style
Vivid Cool
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #00008B
Protanopia #00008B
Tritanopia #003333
Achromatopsia #252525

Frequently Asked Questions

Dark Blue (#00008B) is a color with RGB(0, 0, 139) and HSL(240°, 100%, 54.51%).

#00008B pairs strongly with #8B8B00 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#00008B is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Cool styles.

#00008B is commonly associated with Bold.

The name Dark Blue is linked to Dark Blue from English, meaning A deep shade of blue, often associated with the color of the sky at dusk or the deep sea..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Dark Blue
Meaning A deep shade of blue, often associated with the color of the sky at dusk or the deep sea.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late Middle English

History

The word 'blue' itself has a complex etymology, possibly stemming from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz or Proto-Indo-European *bʰle-wos ('light-colored, blue, yellow, blond'). Historically, blue dyes were difficult and expensive to produce, making blue a color often associated with royalty, divinity, and wealth (e.g., lapis lazuli, indigo). 'Dark blue' specifically refers to the deeper end of this spectrum, often achieved with higher concentrations of dye or specific pigments. Throughout history, dark blue has been used in art, textiles, and heraldry to convey seriousness, stability, and depth. In modern times, it's a common color for uniforms, business attire, and corporate branding.

First Recorded Use

The concept of 'blue' as a distinct color term emerged in Old English (blæw), evolving into Middle English (bleu, blew). The modifier 'dark' to specify a deeper shade would have become common as color vocabulary became more nuanced, likely by the 14th-15th centuries.

Cultural Associations

Dark blue is widely perceived as a color of stability, trust, intelligence, and authority. It is often associated with professionalism and conservatism. In many Western cultures, it is a popular choice for corporate logos and uniforms due to its calming yet authoritative presence. It can also evoke feelings of sadness or melancholy ('feeling blue'). In some spiritual contexts, dark blue is linked to wisdom and inner peace. Its association with the night sky and deep ocean gives it connotations of mystery and the unknown.

Similar Named Colors
Navy Blue #000080 ΔE 1.56
Ultramarine #120A8F ΔE 1.68
Phthalo Blue #000F89 ΔE 2.13
Duke Blue #00009C ΔE 2.34

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #00008B;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #00008B;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #00008B;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #00008B,
        #FFFF17
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #00008B,
        #FFFF17
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$dark-blue: #00008B;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$dark-blue-r: 0;
$dark-blue-g: 0;
$dark-blue-b: 139;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $dark-blue;
    color: rgba($dark-blue-r, $dark-blue-g, $dark-blue-b, 0.8);
}