True Navy color code: #12264E
A balanced mid-deep navy that reads as blue rather than black under both daylight and screen light.
True Navy · rgb(18, 38, 78)
Every format for True Navy
- HEX
- #12264E
- RGB
- rgb(18, 38, 78)
- HSL
- hsl(220, 63%, 19%)
- HSV
- 220°, 77%, 31%
- CMYK
- 77%, 51%, 0%, 69%
- Lightness
- 19% · dark
Hue sits at 220°, which makes True Navy a true blue navy, with 63% saturation. In the Classic Navy family it reads as a dark option.
Text contrast on True 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 True Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
14.86:1 — AAA for normal textBlack text on True Navy
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
1.41:1 — below AA, decorative use onlyTrue Navy text on white
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
14.86:1 — AAA for normal textAccessibility notes
- Pair True Navy with white text for the strongest reading experience: that combination gives 14.86:1.
- Used as a text colour on white, it clears the 3:1 bar for large headings.
- Never rely on True 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 True Navy, add a solid overlay first. Contrast measured against a flat colour does not hold over varying imagery.
Using True Navy in CSS and HTML
CSS example
:root {
--true-navy: #12264E;
}
.panel {
background-color: var(--true-navy);
color: #FFFFFF;
border: 1px solid #12264E;
}HTML example
<div style="background-color: #12264E; color: #FFFFFF; padding: 1rem;">
True Navy #12264E
</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 77%, 51%, 0%, 69%.
- 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, 63%, 19%). Keeping hue fixed is what makes a scale look intentional. - Give True 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 True Navy. Click a swatch to copy it.
Similar navy shades
Continue exploring
FAQs about True Navy
What is the True Navy color code?
The True Navy color code is #12264E in HEX, rgb(18, 38, 78) in RGB and hsl(220, 63%, 19%) in HSL.
What is the RGB value of True Navy?
True Navy is rgb(18, 38, 78), meaning 18 units of red, 38 of green and 78 of blue on the 0 to 255 scale.
What is the CMYK value of True Navy?
In CMYK, True Navy converts to approximately 77%, 51%, 0%, 69%. Printed output will look slightly less saturated than the screen preview because CMYK covers a narrower gamut.
Does white text work on True Navy?
White text on True Navy gives a contrast ratio of 14.86:1, which is AAA for normal text.
Does black text work on True Navy?
Black text on True Navy gives a contrast ratio of 1.41:1, which is below AA, decorative use only.
Which colors go with True Navy?
Its direct complement is #9A7223, and the warm accent #C9BA1D works well for calls to action. For a quieter scheme, pair it with the analogous blues listed above.
Is True Navy a light or dark navy?
At 19% lightness, True Navy is classed as a dark navy in this collection.