Carolina Blue

HEX: #99BADD | Modern Palette

On White
2.01:1
FAIL
On Black
10.42:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#99BADD
RGB
153, 186, 221
HSL
210°, 30% ,86%
CMYK
30.77, 15.84, 0, 13.33

About Carolina Blue

Carolina Blue (#99BADD) is a color with RGB(153, 186, 221) and HSL(210.88°, 30.77%, 86.67%). In design, it fits Pastel, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Background, Print. Its complementary color is #DDBC99, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #DD99BA and #BADD99. The name comes from Carolina Blue (English).

  • HEX: #99BADD
  • RGB: 153, 186, 221
  • HSL: 210.88°, 30.77%, 86.67%
  • Style: Pastel, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Background, Print
  • Complementary color: #DDBC99
  • Triadic colors: #DD99BA, #BADD99
  • The name comes from Carolina Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Carolina Blue #99BADD 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.
 
 
 
CAROLINA BLUE
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
CAROLINA 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

Carolina Blue #99BADD pairs with #DDBC99 as its complementary color, and #DD99BA and #BADD99 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.

CAROLINA BLUE
Analogous

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

CAROLINA BLUE
Triadic

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

CAROLINA BLUE
Split-Complementary

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

CAROLINA BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

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

CAROLINA BLUE
Monochromatic

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

CAROLINA BLUE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Carolina Blue #99BADD moves from dark #060D13 tones through the base color to lighter #ECF2F9 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

CAROLINA BLUE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Pastel Cool
Use case
Text Background Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #B1B1DE
Protanopia #B7B7DD
Tritanopia #92BFBF
Achromatopsia #B7B7B7

Frequently Asked Questions

Carolina Blue (#99BADD) is a color with RGB(153, 186, 221) and HSL(210.88°, 30.77%, 86.67%).

#99BADD pairs strongly with #DDBC99 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#99BADD is suitable for Text, Background, Print and works well with Pastel, Cool styles.

The name Carolina Blue is linked to Carolina Blue from English, meaning A specific shade of light blue associated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Carolina Blue
Meaning A specific shade of light blue associated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The color 'Carolina Blue' is famously associated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Its origins trace back to the late 19th century when the university adopted light blue and white as its official colors. The specific shade is said to have been inspired by the color of the sky on a clear day in North Carolina. Over time, this particular shade of light blue became iconic, especially in collegiate sports. While the hex code #99badd is a common digital representation, the exact shade has seen minor variations over the decades, and different manufacturers might produce slightly different interpretations. The university maintains official color guidelines for branding purposes.

First Recorded Use

The exact first use is difficult to pinpoint to a single date, but the color became officially associated with UNC-Chapel Hill in the late 19th century. Early references to 'light blue' or 'sky blue' for the university's athletic teams and publications predate the formal 'Carolina Blue' designation.

Cultural Associations

Carolina Blue is a deeply ingrained cultural symbol in North Carolina, particularly for alumni and fans of UNC-Chapel Hill. It represents the university's academic and athletic excellence, tradition, and spirit. It is prominently featured in university branding, athletic uniforms, merchandise, and even local architecture around Chapel Hill. The color evokes strong feelings of loyalty and pride among its supporters and is instantly recognizable as belonging to UNC. It is also a point of rivalry with other universities, most notably Duke University (whose color is royal blue).

Similar Named Colors
Pale Cerulean #9BC4E2 ΔE 4.03
Jordy Blue #8AB9F1 ΔE 4.17
Baby Blue Eyes #A1CAF1 ΔE 4.31
Light Steel Blue #B0C4DE ΔE 4.85

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #99BADD;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #99BADD;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #99BADD;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #99BADD,
        #E7DDD3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #99BADD,
        #E7DDD3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$carolina-blue: #99BADD;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$carolina-blue-r: 153;
$carolina-blue-g: 186;
$carolina-blue-b: 221;

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