Cornflower Blue

HEX: #6495ED | Modern Palette

On White
2.97:1
FAIL
On Black
7.06:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#6495ED
RGB
100, 149, 237
HSL
218°, 57% ,92%
CMYK
57.81, 37.13, 0, 7.06

About Cornflower Blue

Cornflower Blue (#6495ED) is a color with RGB(100, 149, 237) and HSL(218.54°, 57.81%, 92.94%). In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Background. Its complementary color is #EDBC64, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #ED6495 and #95ED64. The name comes from Cornflower Blue (English).

  • HEX: #6495ED
  • RGB: 100, 149, 237
  • HSL: 218.54°, 57.81%, 92.94%
  • Style: Cool
  • Use case: Text, Button, Background
  • Complementary color: #EDBC64
  • Triadic colors: #ED6495, #95ED64
  • The name comes from Cornflower Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Cornflower Blue #6495ED 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.
 
 
 
CORNFLOWER BLUE
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CORNFLOWER BLUE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Cornflower Blue #6495ED pairs with #EDBC64 as its complementary color, and #ED6495 and #95ED64 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.

CORNFLOWER BLUE
Analogous

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

CORNFLOWER BLUE
Triadic

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

CORNFLOWER BLUE
Split-Complementary

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

CORNFLOWER BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

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

CORNFLOWER BLUE
Monochromatic

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

CORNFLOWER BLUE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Cornflower Blue #6495ED moves from dark #030A17 tones through the base color to lighter #E8EFFC tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CORNFLOWER BLUE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Cool
Use case
Text Button Background

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #8989ED
Protanopia #9191ED
Tritanopia #42A4A4
Achromatopsia #969696

Frequently Asked Questions

Cornflower Blue (#6495ED) is a color with RGB(100, 149, 237) and HSL(218.54°, 57.81%, 92.94%).

#6495ED pairs strongly with #EDBC64 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#6495ED is suitable for Text, Button, Background and works well with Cool styles.

The name Cornflower Blue is linked to Cornflower Blue from English, meaning A shade of blue resembling the petals of the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) plant..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Cornflower Blue
Meaning A shade of blue resembling the petals of the cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) plant.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is a native of Europe and has been cultivated for centuries. Its distinctive blue petals have long been admired. The color 'Cornflower Blue' specifically refers to a medium-light shade of blue, often with a slight purplish tint, that is characteristic of the wild cornflower. The use of botanical names for colors became a trend in the 18th and 19th centuries, as naturalists and artists sought to categorize and describe the natural world with greater precision. The hex code #6495ed is a modern digital representation of this traditional color.

First Recorded Use

The term 'cornflower blue' as a specific color name gained popularity in the late 19th century, particularly with the advent of standardized color charts and increased interest in botanical accuracy in art and fashion. While cornflowers have been known for centuries, the precise naming of their color became more common during this period.

Cultural Associations

Cornflowers themselves hold various cultural meanings: they are often associated with summer, nature, and innocence. In some cultures, they symbolize hope or remembrance. The color 'Cornflower Blue' evokes a sense of calm, natural beauty, and often a touch of nostalgia. It's a popular color in interior design for creating serene spaces, and in fashion for its classic and gentle appeal. It's also a common color in floral arrangements and garden design.

Similar Named Colors
United Nations Blue #5B92E5 ΔE 1.83
Little Boy Blue #6CA0DC ΔE 3.98
Blue Gray #6699CC ΔE 4.22
Vista Blue #7C9ED9 ΔE 4.40

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #6495ED;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #6495ED;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #6495ED;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #6495ED,
        #F7F0E3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #6495ED,
        #F7F0E3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$cornflower-blue: #6495ED;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$cornflower-blue-r: 100;
$cornflower-blue-g: 149;
$cornflower-blue-b: 237;

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