Duke Blue

HEX: #00009C | Modern Palette

On White
14.19:1
PASS
On Black
1.48:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#00009C
RGB
0, 0, 156
HSL
240°, 100% ,61%
CMYK
100, 100, 0, 38.82

About Duke Blue

Duke Blue (#00009C) is a color with RGB(0, 0, 156) and HSL(240°, 100%, 61.18%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Playful moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Neon styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #9C9C00, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #9C0000 and #009C00. The name comes from Duke Blue (English).

  • HEX: #00009C
  • RGB: 0, 0, 156
  • HSL: 240°, 100%, 61.18%
  • Mood: Bold, Playful
  • Style: Vivid, Neon
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #9C9C00
  • Triadic colors: #9C0000, #009C00
  • The name comes from Duke Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Duke Blue #00009C is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
DUKE BLUE
BLUE
VERY LIGHT BLUE
LAVENDER BLUE
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
DUKE BLUE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
BLUE
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Duke Blue #00009C pairs with #9C9C00 as its complementary color, and #9C0000 and #009C00 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

DUKE BLUE
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

DUKE BLUE
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

DUKE BLUE
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

DUKE BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

DUKE BLUE
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

DUKE BLUE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Duke Blue #00009C moves from dark #00001A tones through the base color to lighter #E6E6FF tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

DUKE BLUE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold Playful
Style
Vivid Neon
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #00009C
Protanopia #00009C
Tritanopia #003A3A
Achromatopsia #2B2B2B

Frequently Asked Questions

Duke Blue (#00009C) is a color with RGB(0, 0, 156) and HSL(240°, 100%, 61.18%).

#00009C pairs strongly with #9C9C00 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#00009C is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Neon styles.

#00009C is commonly associated with Bold, Playful.

The name Duke Blue is linked to Duke Blue from English, meaning A specific shade of blue associated with Duke University..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Duke Blue
Meaning A specific shade of blue associated with Duke University.
Language English
First Recorded Use Early 20th Century

History

Duke University, originally Trinity College, adopted blue and white as its official colors in 1889. The choice of blue is often attributed to the desire to align with other prestigious universities that used blue, such as Yale. Over time, a specific deep blue became synonymous with the institution. The hex code #00009c is one of several digital representations used to define 'Duke Blue' across various media, ensuring consistency in branding.

First Recorded Use

The color 'Duke Blue' was officially adopted by Duke University (then Trinity College) in 1889, though the specific hex code #00009c represents a modern digital interpretation of that color. The university's athletic teams began using blue and white as their colors around that time.

Cultural Associations

Duke Blue is strongly associated with Duke University, particularly its highly successful athletic programs, most notably the men's basketball team. It is a symbol of academic excellence, athletic prowess, and the university's brand. The color evokes a sense of tradition, prestige, and loyalty among alumni and fans. It is widely recognized in collegiate sports and academic circles.

Similar Named Colors
Ultramarine #120A8F ΔE 1.96
Dark Blue #00008B ΔE 2.34
Phthalo Blue #000F89 ΔE 3.09
Zaffre #0014A8 ΔE 3.10

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #00009C;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #00009C;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #00009C;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #00009C,
        #FFFF39
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #00009C,
        #FFFF39
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$duke-blue: #00009C;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$duke-blue-r: 0;
$duke-blue-g: 0;
$duke-blue-b: 156;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $duke-blue;
    color: rgba($duke-blue-r, $duke-blue-g, $duke-blue-b, 0.8);
}