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Cadet Blue Hex Code — #5F9EA0

RGB, HSL, and CMYK values for Cadet Blue.

Last updated: April 6, 2026

Cadet Blue Color Values

FormatValue
HEX#5F9EA0
RGBrgb(95, 158, 160)
HSLhsl(182, 25%, 50%)
CMYKcmyk(41%, 1%, 0%, 37%)
Want to explore more shades? Use our Color Converter

About Cadet Blue

Color psychology: Trustworthiness, calm.

Cadet Blue (#5F9EA0) is a medium shade of blue with a hue angle of 182° on the color wheel, 25% saturation, and 50% lightness. It's commonly used in web design, graphic design, and branding where trustworthiness, calm are desired associations.

In color theory, Cadet Blue sits in the cool section of the spectrum. Its low saturation creates a muted, understated tone — great for backgrounds, borders, and subtle UI elements.

When to Use Cadet Blue in Design

Web Design

Use Cadet Blue for headings, links, or accent elements against light backgrounds. Dark colors like this provide strong contrast and draw the eye to important content.

Branding & Logo

Cadet Blue conveys trustworthiness, calm — consider it for brands that want to project these qualities. Test it at small sizes (favicon, social avatar) to ensure it remains recognizable.

Print Design

Use the CMYK values (C:41% M:1% Y:0% K:37%) for accurate print reproduction in brochures, business cards, and packaging. Request a physical proof — screen colors often appear more vibrant than their printed equivalents.

UI / UX Design

Dark colors like Cadet Blue are effective for primary buttons, navigation bars, and text. Use a lighter tint (increase HSL lightness to 90%+) for hover backgrounds.

How to Use Cadet Blue in CSS

/* Using HEX */
color: #5F9EA0;
background-color: #5F9EA0;

/* Using RGB */
color: rgb(95, 158, 160);

/* Using HSL — best for creating variations */
color: hsl(182, 25%, 50%);

/* Transparent overlay (50% opacity) */
background-color: rgba(95, 158, 160, 0.5);

/* Lighter variant for hover states */
background-color: hsl(182, 25%, 60%);

/* Darker variant for active states */
background-color: hsl(182, 25%, 40%);

HSL is the most flexible format for creating color systems. By adjusting the lightness value, you can generate an entire shade scale from Cadet Blue without changing its core hue or saturation.

Colors That Go With Cadet Blue

Complementary

Analogous

Triadic

Similar Shades of Blue

Electric Blue

#7DF9FF

Dark Turquoise

#00CED1

Cyan

#00FFFF

Dark Cyan

#008B8B

Light Cyan

#E0FFFF

Aqua

#00FFFF

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for Cadet Blue?
The hex color code for Cadet Blue is #5F9EA0. In CSS, apply it as text color with color: #5F9EA0;, as a background with background-color: #5F9EA0;, or as a border with border-color: #5F9EA0;. Hex is the most widely used color notation on the web because it is compact, supported by every browser, and easy to copy between design tools like Figma, Photoshop, and code editors.
What is Cadet Blue in RGB and when should I use RGB?
Cadet Blue in RGB is rgb(95, 158, 160), where Red=95, Green=158, and Blue=160 on a 0-255 scale. Use RGB when you need transparency — rgba(95, 158, 160, 0.5) creates a 50% transparent version. RGB is also the native format for HTML canvas, WebGL, and JavaScript image manipulation, since each channel represents the intensity of that primary light color on screen displays.
How to use Cadet Blue in CSS with different color formats?
Cadet Blue can be applied in CSS using multiple formats: (1) Hex: color: #5F9EA0; — most compact and widely used. (2) RGB: color: rgb(95, 158, 160); — useful when calculating colors dynamically in JavaScript. (3) HSL: color: hsl(182, 25%, 50%); — best for creating variations, since adjusting lightness produces lighter or darker shades while keeping the same hue. (4) With transparency: rgba(95, 158, 160, 0.8); or hsla(182, 25%, 50%, 0.8); for 80% opacity overlays.
What is the HSL value of Cadet Blue and why is HSL useful for designers?
Cadet Blue in HSL is hsl(182, 25%, 50%). HSL stands for Hue (182 degrees on the color wheel), Saturation (25% color intensity), and Lightness (50% brightness). HSL is the most intuitive format for designers because you can create harmonious palettes by rotating the hue, generate hover effects by increasing lightness by 10%, and desaturate colors by reducing the S value. This makes Cadet Blue a medium, muted cool-toned color.
What is the CMYK value of Cadet Blue for print design?
Cadet Blue in CMYK is C:41% M:1% Y:0% K:37%. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the standard color model for professional printing — business cards, brochures, merchandise, and packaging. When designing for print in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, use these exact CMYK values to ensure accurate color reproduction. Screen colors (RGB) often appear more vibrant than their printed CMYK equivalents, so always request a physical proof for brand-critical materials.
What colors pair well with Cadet Blue in design projects?
Blue is the most universally liked color and pairs with almost anything. Use light blue backgrounds with dark text for calm interfaces, or pair navy with white for a professional, trustworthy look.
Is Cadet Blue (#5F9EA0) accessible for web design and WCAG compliant?
Blue-on-white is one of the safer combinations for color-blind users, but ensure the shade is dark enough (below #1565C0) for WCAG AA text compliance at the standard 4.5:1 ratio. For Cadet Blue specifically: as a medium shade (lightness: 50%), it can work as a text color on light backgrounds, but verify the exact contrast ratio using a contrast checker tool. WCAG 2.1 requires a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18px+ bold or 24px+ regular).

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Written by

Tamanna Tasnim

Senior Full Stack Developer

ToolsContainerDhaka, Bangladesh5+ years experiencetasnim@toolscontainer.comwww.toolscontainer.com

Full-stack developer with deep expertise in data formats, APIs, and developer tooling. Writes in-depth technical comparisons and conversion guides backed by hands-on engineering experience across modern web stacks.

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