Light Sky Blue

HEX: #87CEFA | Modern Palette

On White
1.72:1
FAIL
On Black
12.24:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#87CEFA
RGB
135, 206, 250
HSL
202°, 46% ,98%
CMYK
46, 17.6, 0, 1.96

About Light Sky Blue

Light Sky Blue (#87CEFA) is a color with RGB(135, 206, 250) and HSL(202.96°, 46%, 98.04%). In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #FAB387, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #FA87CE and #CEFA87. The name comes from Light Sky Blue (English).

  • HEX: #87CEFA
  • RGB: 135, 206, 250
  • HSL: 202.96°, 46%, 98.04%
  • Style: Cool
  • Use case: Text, Button, Background
  • Complementary color: #FAB387
  • Triadic colors: #FA87CE, #CEFA87
  • The name comes from Light Sky Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

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

Color Harmonies

Complementary

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

Analogous

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

Triadic

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

Split-Complementary

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

Tetradic (Square)

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

Monochromatic

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

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #87CEFA from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Cool
Use case
Text Button Background

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #BDBDFB
Protanopia #C8C8FA
Tritanopia #7BD4D4
Achromatopsia #C6C6C6

Frequently Asked Questions

Light Sky Blue (#87CEFA) is a color with RGB(135, 206, 250) and HSL(202.96°, 46%, 98.04%).

#87CEFA pairs strongly with #FAB387 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#87CEFA is suitable for Text, Button, Background and works well with Cool styles.

The name Light Sky Blue is linked to Light Sky Blue from English, meaning A light shade of blue, reminiscent of the color of the sky on a clear day..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Light Sky Blue
Meaning A light shade of blue, reminiscent of the color of the sky on a clear day.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 17th to Early 18th Century (as a descriptive phrase), Mid-19th Century (as a more standardized color name)

History

The concept of 'sky blue' as a color has existed for centuries, referring to the color of the daytime sky. The addition of 'light' specifies a paler variant. As a specific, named color, 'Light Sky Blue' gained prominence with the development of standardized color systems, particularly in the digital age. The hexadecimal code #87cefa is part of the X11 color names, which were widely adopted for web colors, making it a recognized standard for this particular shade.

First Recorded Use

While descriptive phrases like 'light sky blue' would have been used whenever people described the sky, its formalization as a specific color name with a defined hue likely emerged as color naming became more systematic. The X11 color name 'LightSkyBlue' and its associated hexadecimal value (#87cefa) were standardized much later with the advent of computer graphics and web colors.

Cultural Associations

Light blue shades, including 'Light Sky Blue', are often associated with tranquility, peace, openness, and freshness. They can evoke feelings of calmness and serenity, similar to looking at a clear sky. In fashion and interior design, it's often used to create a light, airy, and spacious feel. It's a popular color for baby clothes, particularly for boys, though this association is more cultural than inherent.

Similar Named Colors
Pale Cyan #87D3F8 ΔE 2.69
Baby Blue #89CFF0 ΔE 3.16
Light Cornflower Blue #93CCEA ΔE 3.54
Cornflower #9ACEEB ΔE 3.93

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #87CEFA;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #87CEFA;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #87CEFA;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #87CEFA,
        #FCF9F8
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #87CEFA,
        #FCF9F8
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$light-sky-blue: #87CEFA;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$light-sky-blue-r: 135;
$light-sky-blue-g: 206;
$light-sky-blue-b: 250;

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