Naval Blue color code: #223A5E
A lighter service navy with visible blue saturation, legible against white without harshness.
Naval Blue · rgb(34, 58, 94)
Every format for Naval Blue
- HEX
- #223A5E
- RGB
- rgb(34, 58, 94)
- HSL
- hsl(216, 47%, 25%)
- HSV
- 216°, 64%, 37%
- CMYK
- 64%, 38%, 0%, 63%
- Lightness
- 25% · dark
Hue sits at 216°, which makes Naval Blue a slightly cool blue navy, with 47% saturation. In the Classic Navy family it reads as a dark option.
Text contrast on Naval Blue
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 Naval Blue
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
11.44:1 — AAA for normal textBlack text on Naval Blue
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
1.83:1 — below AA, decorative use onlyNaval Blue text on white
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
11.44:1 — AAA for normal textAccessibility notes
- Pair Naval Blue with white text for the strongest reading experience: that combination gives 11.44:1.
- Used as a text colour on white, it clears the 3:1 bar for large headings.
- Never rely on Naval Blue 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 Naval Blue, add a solid overlay first. Contrast measured against a flat colour does not hold over varying imagery.
Using Naval Blue in CSS and HTML
CSS example
:root {
--naval-blue: #223A5E;
}
.panel {
background-color: var(--naval-blue);
color: #FFFFFF;
border: 1px solid #223A5E;
}HTML example
<div style="background-color: #223A5E; color: #FFFFFF; padding: 1rem;">
Naval Blue #223A5E
</div>Common uses
- Page and section backgrounds in dark interfaces, where it holds white text cleanly.
- Classic 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 64%, 38%, 0%, 63%.
- 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(216, 47%, 25%). Keeping hue fixed is what makes a scale look intentional. - Give Naval Blue 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 Naval Blue. Click a swatch to copy it.
Similar navy shades
Continue exploring
FAQs about Naval Blue
What is the Naval Blue color code?
The Naval Blue color code is #223A5E in HEX, rgb(34, 58, 94) in RGB and hsl(216, 47%, 25%) in HSL.
What is the RGB value of Naval Blue?
Naval Blue is rgb(34, 58, 94), meaning 34 units of red, 58 of green and 94 of blue on the 0 to 255 scale.
What is the CMYK value of Naval Blue?
In CMYK, Naval Blue converts to approximately 64%, 38%, 0%, 63%. Printed output will look slightly less saturated than the screen preview because CMYK covers a narrower gamut.
Does white text work on Naval Blue?
White text on Naval Blue gives a contrast ratio of 11.44:1, which is AAA for normal text.
Does black text work on Naval Blue?
Black text on Naval Blue gives a contrast ratio of 1.83:1, which is below AA, decorative use only.
Which colors go with Naval Blue?
Its direct complement is #A1783A, and the warm accent #D6BD2E works well for calls to action. For a quieter scheme, pair it with the analogous blues listed above.
Is Naval Blue a light or dark navy?
At 25% lightness, Naval Blue is classed as a dark navy in this collection.