Cadet Blue

HEX: #5F9EA0 | Modern Palette

On White
3.05:1
FAIL
On Black
6.88:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#5F9EA0
RGB
95, 158, 160
HSL
181°, 40% ,62%
CMYK
40.63, 1.25, 0, 37.25

About Cadet Blue

Cadet Blue (#5F9EA0) is a color with RGB(95, 158, 160) and HSL(181.85°, 40.63%, 62.75%). It is commonly associated with Calm moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Logo, Print. Its complementary color is #A0615F, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #A05F9E and #9EA05F. The name comes from Cadet Blue (English).

  • HEX: #5F9EA0
  • RGB: 95, 158, 160
  • HSL: 181.85°, 40.63%, 62.75%
  • Mood: Calm
  • Style: Cool
  • Use case: Text, Logo, Print
  • Complementary color: #A0615F
  • Triadic colors: #A05F9E, #9EA05F
  • The name comes from Cadet Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Cadet Blue #5F9EA0 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.
 
 
CADET BLUE
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CADET BLUE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
CADET BLUE
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Cadet Blue #5F9EA0 pairs with #A0615F as its complementary color, and #A05F9E and #9EA05F 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.

CADET BLUE
Analogous

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

CADET BLUE
Triadic

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

CADET BLUE
Split-Complementary

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

CADET BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

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

CADET BLUE
Monochromatic

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

CADET BLUE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Cadet Blue #5F9EA0 moves from dark #091010 tones through the base color to lighter #EFF5F6 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CADET BLUE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Calm
Style
Cool
Use case
Text Logo Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #8F8FA1
Protanopia #9999A0
Tritanopia #5E9E9E
Achromatopsia #949494

Frequently Asked Questions

Cadet Blue (#5F9EA0) is a color with RGB(95, 158, 160) and HSL(181.85°, 40.63%, 62.75%).

#5F9EA0 pairs strongly with #A0615F as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#5F9EA0 is suitable for Text, Logo, Print and works well with Cool styles.

#5F9EA0 is commonly associated with Calm.

The name Cadet Blue is linked to Cadet Blue from English, meaning A shade of blue associated with military cadets..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Cadet Blue
Meaning A shade of blue associated with military cadets.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The color 'Cadet Blue' was first recorded as a color name in English in 1887. Its name likely derives from the color of uniforms worn by military cadets, particularly in naval academies or military schools. The specific shade is a medium tone of blue-green or cyan, often described as a grayish-blue or a pale teal. It gained popularity in various contexts beyond uniforms, including interior design and fashion, for its calming and sophisticated qualities.

First Recorded Use

1887

Cultural Associations

Cadet Blue is often associated with professionalism, discipline, and a sense of calm. Due to its military origins, it can evoke feelings of order and tradition. In modern contexts, it is seen as a versatile and gender-neutral color, often used in corporate branding, home decor, and apparel for its understated elegance.

Similar Named Colors
Desaturated Cyan #669999 ΔE 2.36
Blue Lagoon #5E93A1 ΔE 6.85
Viridian Green #009698 ΔE 7.37
Verdigris #43B3AE ΔE 8.00

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #5F9EA0;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #5F9EA0;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #5F9EA0;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #5F9EA0,
        #C77C79
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #5F9EA0,
        #C77C79
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$cadet-blue: #5F9EA0;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$cadet-blue-r: 95;
$cadet-blue-g: 158;
$cadet-blue-b: 160;

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