Plum Navy color code: #3B3160
A decorative navy-plum for editorial and packaging work.
Plum Navy · rgb(59, 49, 96)
Every format for Plum Navy
- HEX
- #3B3160
- RGB
- rgb(59, 49, 96)
- HSL
- hsl(253, 32%, 28%)
- HSV
- 253°, 49%, 38%
- CMYK
- 39%, 49%, 0%, 62%
- Lightness
- 28% · dark
Hue sits at 253°, which makes Plum Navy a violet-leaning navy, with 32% saturation. In the Purple Navy family it reads as a dark option.
Text contrast on Plum 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 Plum Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
11.7:1 — AAA for normal textBlack text on Plum Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
1.79:1 — below AA, decorative use onlyPlum Navy text on white
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
11.7:1 — AAA for normal textAccessibility notes
- Pair Plum Navy with white text for the strongest reading experience: that combination gives 11.7:1.
- Used as a text colour on white, it clears the 3:1 bar for large headings.
- Never rely on Plum 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 Plum Navy, add a solid overlay first. Contrast measured against a flat colour does not hold over varying imagery.
Using Plum Navy in CSS and HTML
CSS example
:root {
--plum-navy: #3B3160;
}
.panel {
background-color: var(--plum-navy);
color: #FFFFFF;
border: 1px solid #3B3160;
}HTML example
<div style="background-color: #3B3160; color: #FFFFFF; padding: 1rem;">
Plum Navy #3B3160
</div>Common uses
- Page and section backgrounds in dark interfaces, where it holds white text cleanly.
- Purple 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 39%, 49%, 0%, 62%.
- 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(253, 32%, 28%). Keeping hue fixed is what makes a scale look intentional. - Give Plum 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 Plum Navy. Click a swatch to copy it.
Similar navy shades
Continue exploring
FAQs about Plum Navy
What is the Plum Navy color code?
The Plum Navy color code is #3B3160 in HEX, rgb(59, 49, 96) in RGB and hsl(253, 32%, 28%) in HSL.
What is the RGB value of Plum Navy?
Plum Navy is rgb(59, 49, 96), meaning 59 units of red, 49 of green and 96 of blue on the 0 to 255 scale.
What is the CMYK value of Plum Navy?
In CMYK, Plum Navy converts to approximately 39%, 49%, 0%, 62%. Printed output will look slightly less saturated than the screen preview because CMYK covers a narrower gamut.
Does white text work on Plum Navy?
White text on Plum Navy gives a contrast ratio of 11.7:1, which is AAA for normal text.
Does black text work on Plum Navy?
Black text on Plum Navy gives a contrast ratio of 1.79:1, which is below AA, decorative use only.
Which colors go with Plum Navy?
Its direct complement is #8B9B50, and the warm accent #8EC74D works well for calls to action. For a quieter scheme, pair it with the analogous blues listed above.
Is Plum Navy a light or dark navy?
At 28% lightness, Plum Navy is classed as a dark navy in this collection.