Charcoal Navy color code: #1C2331
Almost a blue-grey charcoal, ideal where navy would otherwise feel too saturated.
Charcoal Navy · rgb(28, 35, 49)
Every format for Charcoal Navy
- HEX
- #1C2331
- RGB
- rgb(28, 35, 49)
- HSL
- hsl(220, 27%, 15%)
- HSV
- 220°, 43%, 19%
- CMYK
- 43%, 29%, 0%, 81%
- Lightness
- 15% · dark
Hue sits at 220°, which makes Charcoal Navy a true blue navy, with 27% saturation. In the Midnight Navy family it reads as a dark option.
Text contrast on Charcoal Navy
Contrast ratios are calculated using the WCAG 2.1 relative luminance formula. Normal body text needs 4.5:1 and large text needs 3:1 to pass AA.
White text on Charcoal Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
15.74:1 — AAA for normal textBlack text on Charcoal Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
1.33:1 — below AA, decorative use onlyCharcoal Navy text on white
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
15.74:1 — AAA for normal textAccessibility notes
- Pair Charcoal Navy with white text for the strongest reading experience: that combination gives 15.74:1.
- Used as a text colour on white, it clears the 3:1 bar for large headings.
- Never rely on Charcoal Navy alone to communicate state. Add an icon, label or underline so the meaning survives for colour-blind users and in greyscale printing.
- When placing text over a photograph tinted with Charcoal Navy, add a solid overlay first. Contrast measured against a flat colour does not hold over varying imagery.
Using Charcoal Navy in CSS and HTML
CSS example
:root {
--charcoal-navy: #1C2331;
}
.panel {
background-color: var(--charcoal-navy);
color: #FFFFFF;
border: 1px solid #1C2331;
}HTML example
<div style="background-color: #1C2331; color: #FFFFFF; padding: 1rem;">
Charcoal Navy #1C2331
</div>Common uses
- Page and section backgrounds in dark interfaces, where it holds white text cleanly.
- Midnight Navy palettes for brand systems that need a dependable cool anchor.
- Print work where a deep blue is preferred to black, using the CMYK build 43%, 29%, 0%, 81%.
- Data visualisation, as one step in a lightness-based navy scale.
Design recommendations
- Build lighter and darker variants by changing only the lightness in
hsl(220, 27%, 15%). Keeping hue fixed is what makes a scale look intentional. - Give Charcoal Navy at least one warm counterweight. A cool palette with no warm accent tends to read as cold rather than calm.
- Saturation is moderate, which makes this shade forgiving across large areas and long reading sessions.
Complementary and matching colors
Each of these is derived from the hue, saturation and lightness of Charcoal Navy. Click a swatch to copy it.
Similar navy shades
Continue exploring
FAQs about Charcoal Navy
What is the Charcoal Navy color code?
The Charcoal Navy color code is #1C2331 in HEX, rgb(28, 35, 49) in RGB and hsl(220, 27%, 15%) in HSL.
What is the RGB value of Charcoal Navy?
Charcoal Navy is rgb(28, 35, 49), meaning 28 units of red, 35 of green and 49 of blue on the 0 to 255 scale.
What is the CMYK value of Charcoal Navy?
In CMYK, Charcoal Navy converts to approximately 43%, 29%, 0%, 81%. Printed output will look slightly less saturated than the screen preview because CMYK covers a narrower gamut.
Does white text work on Charcoal Navy?
White text on Charcoal Navy gives a contrast ratio of 15.74:1, which is AAA for normal text.
Does black text work on Charcoal Navy?
Black text on Charcoal Navy gives a contrast ratio of 1.33:1, which is below AA, decorative use only.
Which colors go with Charcoal Navy?
Its direct complement is #716141, and the warm accent #9A9137 works well for calls to action. For a quieter scheme, pair it with the analogous blues listed above.
Is Charcoal Navy a light or dark navy?
At 15% lightness, Charcoal Navy is classed as a dark navy in this collection.