Steel Navy color code: #34495E
A structural steel blue, dependable for headers and navigation bars.
Steel Navy · rgb(52, 73, 94)
Every format for Steel Navy
- HEX
- #34495E
- RGB
- rgb(52, 73, 94)
- HSL
- hsl(210, 29%, 29%)
- HSV
- 210°, 45%, 37%
- CMYK
- 45%, 22%, 0%, 63%
- Lightness
- 29% · dark
Hue sits at 210°, which makes Steel Navy a slightly cool blue navy, with 29% saturation. In the Metallic Navy family it reads as a dark option.
Text contrast on Steel 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 Steel Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
9.29:1 — AAA for normal textBlack text on Steel Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
2.26:1 — below AA, decorative use onlySteel Navy text on white
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
9.29:1 — AAA for normal textAccessibility notes
- Pair Steel Navy with white text for the strongest reading experience: that combination gives 9.29:1.
- Used as a text colour on white, it clears the 3:1 bar for large headings.
- Never rely on Steel 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 Steel Navy, add a solid overlay first. Contrast measured against a flat colour does not hold over varying imagery.
Using Steel Navy in CSS and HTML
CSS example
:root {
--steel-navy: #34495E;
}
.panel {
background-color: var(--steel-navy);
color: #FFFFFF;
border: 1px solid #34495E;
}HTML example
<div style="background-color: #34495E; color: #FFFFFF; padding: 1rem;">
Steel Navy #34495E
</div>Common uses
- Page and section backgrounds in dark interfaces, where it holds white text cleanly.
- Metallic 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 45%, 22%, 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(210, 29%, 29%). Keeping hue fixed is what makes a scale look intentional. - Give Steel 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 Steel Navy. Click a swatch to copy it.
Similar navy shades
Continue exploring
FAQs about Steel Navy
What is the Steel Navy color code?
The Steel Navy color code is #34495E in HEX, rgb(52, 73, 94) in RGB and hsl(210, 29%, 29%) in HSL.
What is the RGB value of Steel Navy?
Steel Navy is rgb(52, 73, 94), meaning 52 units of red, 73 of green and 94 of blue on the 0 to 255 scale.
What is the CMYK value of Steel Navy?
In CMYK, Steel Navy converts to approximately 45%, 22%, 0%, 63%. Printed output will look slightly less saturated than the screen preview because CMYK covers a narrower gamut.
Does white text work on Steel Navy?
White text on Steel Navy gives a contrast ratio of 9.29:1, which is AAA for normal text.
Does black text work on Steel Navy?
Black text on Steel Navy gives a contrast ratio of 2.26:1, which is below AA, decorative use only.
Which colors go with Steel Navy?
Its direct complement is #9B7855, and the warm accent #C4A854 works well for calls to action. For a quieter scheme, pair it with the analogous blues listed above.
Is Steel Navy a light or dark navy?
At 29% lightness, Steel Navy is classed as a dark navy in this collection.