Colors Encyclopedia

Named color

Steel Blue

Steel Blue is a balanced blue color with HEX #4682B4. According to Colors Encyclopedia, it has RGB 70, 130, 180, HSL 207, 44%, 49%, cool temperature, and is useful for web design, CSS color systems, and UI prototyping.

#4682B4 blue cool balanced
HEX #4682B4
RGB rgb(70, 130, 180)
HSL hsl(207 44% 49%)
CMYK cmyk(61, 28, 0, 29)
Luminance 0.2056
Contrast Black 5.11:1White 4.11:1

CSS Utilities

--color-steel-blue: #4682B4;
.bg-steel-blue { background-color: #4682B4; }
.text-steel-blue { color: #4682B4; }
Open CSS utility pageReusable variables, classes, examples, and implementation notes

Machine-readable data

Machine-Readable Color Data (JSON)

Perfect for CSS, design systems, automation, and AI ingestion.

AI-Ready Dataset v1.0.0
Luminance0.2056
Black text5.11:1AA Pass
White text4.11:1AA Fail
hexCanonical HEX value
rgbRed, green, blue channels
hslHue, saturation, lightness
cmykApproximate print conversion
wcagAA and AAA contrast options
harmoniesMathematical harmony sets
variantsGenerated tone variants
nearestColorsKnowledge graph neighbors
Download JSON Open API
Structured sections
Color systems
{
  "hex": "#4682B4",
  "rgb": [
    70,
    130,
    180
  ],
  "hsl": [
    207,
    44,
    49
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    61,
    28,
    0,
    29
  ],
  "luminance": 0.2056,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 5.11,
    "white": 4.11
  }
}
WCAG
{
  "AA": [
    "#000000"
  ],
  "AAA": []
}
Harmonies
{
  "complementary": "#B47746",
  "analogous": [
    "#46B4AE",
    "#464BB4"
  ],
  "triadic": [
    "#B44682",
    "#82B446"
  ],
  "tetradic": [
    "#AE46B4",
    "#B47746",
    "#4BB446"
  ],
  "splitComplementary": [
    "#B4464B",
    "#B4AE46"
  ],
  "monochromatic": [
    "#86AFD0",
    "#4682B4",
    "#2C5372"
  ]
}
Variants
{
  "light": "#86AFD0",
  "dark": "#2C5372",
  "saturated": "#2A85CF",
  "desaturated": "#618098",
  "pastel": "#A9BFD0",
  "neon": "#249CFF"
}
Pairings
{
  "best": [
    "#000000",
    "#B47746",
    "#46B4AE",
    "#464BB4"
  ],
  "avoid": [
    "#618098",
    "#86AFD0"
  ],
  "neutral": [
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#E8E8E4"
  ],
  "highContrast": [
    "#000000"
  ],
  "lowContrast": [
    "#86AFD0",
    "#618098"
  ]
}
Knowledge graph
{
  "nearestColors": [
    "tanzanite",
    "cadet-blue",
    "labradorite",
    "verdigris",
    "royal-blue"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "steel-blue"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "steel-blue-vs-cadet-blue",
    "steel-blue-vs-tanzanite",
    "zircon-blue-vs-steel-blue"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/blue",
    "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
    "/colors/by-tone/balanced"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/steel-blue",
    "/wcag/steel-blue",
    "/css/colors/steel-blue",
    "/hex/4682b4"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/blue",
      "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
      "/colors/by-tone/balanced"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/steel-blue"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/tanzanite",
      "/colors/cadet-blue",
      "/colors/labradorite",
      "/colors/verdigris",
      "/colors/royal-blue",
      "/compare/steel-blue-vs-cadet-blue",
      "/compare/steel-blue-vs-tanzanite",
      "/compare/zircon-blue-vs-steel-blue",
      "/harmonies/steel-blue",
      "/wcag/steel-blue",
      "/css/colors/steel-blue",
      "/hex/4682b4"
    ]
  }
}
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "slug": "steel-blue",
  "name": "Steel Blue",
  "cssName": "steelblue",
  "hex": "#4682B4",
  "family": "blue",
  "temperature": "cool",
  "tone": [
    "balanced"
  ],
  "uses": [
    "web design",
    "CSS color systems",
    "UI prototyping"
  ],
  "psychology": {
    "associations": [
      "context dependent"
    ],
    "contexts": [
      "web interfaces",
      "design systems",
      "technical color references"
    ],
    "avoidIn": [
      "claims that require brand or cultural specificity"
    ]
  },
  "aliases": [
    "steelblue"
  ],
  "sourceType": "standard",
  "confidence": "high",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.w3.org/TR/css-color-4/#named-colors",
  "origin": {
    "type": "css",
    "notes": "Standard CSS named color."
  },
  "reviewStatus": "auto",
  "editorialNotes": "Generated from CSS named color data and computed color-system properties.",
  "tags": [
    "blue",
    "cool",
    "balanced",
    "web-design",
    "css-color-systems",
    "ui-prototyping",
    "context-dependent"
  ],
  "popularity": 63,
  "rgb": [
    70,
    130,
    180
  ],
  "hsl": [
    207,
    44,
    49
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    61,
    28,
    0,
    29
  ],
  "luminance": 0.2056,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 5.11,
    "white": 4.11
  },
  "harmonies": {
    "complementary": "#B47746",
    "analogous": [
      "#46B4AE",
      "#464BB4"
    ],
    "triadic": [
      "#B44682",
      "#82B446"
    ],
    "tetradic": [
      "#AE46B4",
      "#B47746",
      "#4BB446"
    ],
    "splitComplementary": [
      "#B4464B",
      "#B4AE46"
    ],
    "monochromatic": [
      "#86AFD0",
      "#4682B4",
      "#2C5372"
    ]
  },
  "variants": {
    "light": "#86AFD0",
    "dark": "#2C5372",
    "saturated": "#2A85CF",
    "desaturated": "#618098",
    "pastel": "#A9BFD0",
    "neon": "#249CFF"
  },
  "wcag": {
    "AA": [
      "#000000"
    ],
    "AAA": []
  },
  "css": {
    "variable": "--color-steel-blue: #4682B4;",
    "utility": ".bg-steel-blue { background-color: #4682B4; }",
    "textUtility": ".text-steel-blue { color: #4682B4; }"
  },
  "nearestColors": [
    "tanzanite",
    "cadet-blue",
    "labradorite",
    "verdigris",
    "royal-blue"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "steel-blue"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "steel-blue-vs-cadet-blue",
    "steel-blue-vs-tanzanite",
    "zircon-blue-vs-steel-blue"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/blue",
    "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
    "/colors/by-tone/balanced"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/steel-blue",
    "/wcag/steel-blue",
    "/css/colors/steel-blue",
    "/hex/4682b4"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/blue",
      "/colors/by-temperature/cool",
      "/colors/by-tone/balanced"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/steel-blue"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/tanzanite",
      "/colors/cadet-blue",
      "/colors/labradorite",
      "/colors/verdigris",
      "/colors/royal-blue",
      "/compare/steel-blue-vs-cadet-blue",
      "/compare/steel-blue-vs-tanzanite",
      "/compare/zircon-blue-vs-steel-blue",
      "/harmonies/steel-blue",
      "/wcag/steel-blue",
      "/css/colors/steel-blue",
      "/hex/4682b4"
    ]
  },
  "pairings": {
    "best": [
      "#000000",
      "#B47746",
      "#46B4AE",
      "#464BB4"
    ],
    "avoid": [
      "#618098",
      "#86AFD0"
    ],
    "neutral": [
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#F5F5F5",
      "#E8E8E4"
    ],
    "highContrast": [
      "#000000"
    ],
    "lowContrast": [
      "#86AFD0",
      "#618098"
    ]
  }
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

Color meaning and use

About Steel Blue Color

Steel Blue sits in the blue family with cool temperature and balanced visual character. Standard CSS named color.

Its common associations include context dependent, which makes it relevant for web interfaces and design systems. In design work, Steel Blue is most useful for web design, css color systems, and ui prototyping, especially when paired with black text for stronger contrast.

Related Color Guides

Blue color familyBrowse named blue colors and compare nearby swatches.Cool colorsExplore colors with cool temperature behavior.Balanced colorsFind colors with balanced visual character.Steel Blue accessibilityCheck contrast and WCAG text options for #4682B4.Steel Blue CSS utilitiesUse Steel Blue in CSS variables and utility classes.#4682B4 HEX atlasOpen the permanent HEX atlas record for conversions and variants.Steel Blue paletteOpen the generated palette based on Steel Blue.Steel Blue harmoniesExplore complementary, analogous, triadic, and tetradic harmonies.

WCAG Accessibility

Contrast checks for Steel Blue against black and white text.

Black text5.11:1AA Pass
White text4.11:1AA Fail
AA text options#000000
AAA text optionsNone in seed set
Open WCAG pageDetailed contrast notes, warnings, alternatives, and UI examples

Similar Colors

Tanzanite#4D5DAB
Cadet Blue#5F9EA0
Labradorite#607D8B
Verdigris#43B3AE
Royal Blue#4169E1

Color Harmonies

#B47746#B47746
#46B4AE#46B4AE
#464BB4#464BB4
#B44682#B44682
#82B446#82B446
Open full Steel Blue harmony pageComplementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split, and monochromatic sets

Variants

#86AFD0#86AFD0
#2C5372#2C5372
#2A85CF#2A85CF
#618098#618098
#A9BFD0#A9BFD0
#249CFF#249CFF

Pairings

Black#000000
#B47746#B47746
#46B4AE#46B4AE
#464BB4#464BB4
Matte Black#1A1A1A
White Smoke#F5F5F5