Air Force Blue (USAF)

HEX: #00308F | Modern Palette

On White
11.54:1
PASS
On Black
1.82:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#00308F
RGB
0, 48, 143
HSL
219°, 100% ,56%
CMYK
100, 66.43, 0, 43.92

About Air Force Blue (USAF)

Air Force Blue (USAF) (#00308F) is a color with RGB(0, 48, 143) and HSL(219.86°, 100%, 56.08%). It is commonly associated with Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Neon styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #8F5F00, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #8F0030 and #308F00. The name comes from Air Force Blue (USAF) (English).

  • HEX: #00308F
  • RGB: 0, 48, 143
  • HSL: 219.86°, 100%, 56.08%
  • Mood: Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Neon
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #8F5F00
  • Triadic colors: #8F0030, #308F00
  • The name comes from Air Force Blue (USAF) (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Air Force Blue (USAF) #00308F 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.
 
AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)
 
 
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

Air Force Blue (USAF) #00308F pairs with #8F5F00 as its complementary color, and #8F0030 and #308F00 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.

AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)
Analogous

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

AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)
Triadic

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

AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)
Split-Complementary

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

AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)
Tetradic (Square)

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

AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)
Monochromatic

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

AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Air Force Blue (USAF) #00308F moves from dark #00091A tones through the base color to lighter #E6EEFF tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

AIR FORCE BLUE (USAF)

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold
Style
Vivid Neon
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #28288F
Protanopia #2D2D8F
Tritanopia #004646
Achromatopsia #393939

Frequently Asked Questions

Air Force Blue (USAF) (#00308F) is a color with RGB(0, 48, 143) and HSL(219.86°, 100%, 56.08%).

#00308F pairs strongly with #8F5F00 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#00308F is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Neon styles.

#00308F is commonly associated with Bold.

The name Air Force Blue (USAF) is linked to Air Force Blue (USAF) from English, meaning A specific shade of blue officially adopted by the United States Air Force..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Air Force Blue (USAF)
Meaning A specific shade of blue officially adopted by the United States Air Force.
Language English
First Recorded Use Mid-20th Century

History

When the United States Air Force (USAF) was established as a separate branch of the military in 1947, it needed its own distinct identity, including a unique uniform color. Prior to this, the Army Air Forces wore Army uniforms. The chosen color, often referred to simply as 'Air Force Blue,' was intended to evoke the sky and represent the service's domain. The specific shade #00308f is a deep, rich blue that has remained a cornerstone of USAF branding and uniforms since its inception. It distinguishes USAF personnel from other branches and is used across various official insignia, flags, and equipment.

First Recorded Use

1947

Cultural Associations

Air Force Blue is immediately recognizable in the United States as representing the Air Force. It is a symbol of military service, patriotism, and the aerospace domain. The color is deeply ingrained in the visual culture surrounding the USAF, appearing in recruitment materials, official ceremonies, and public representations of the service. It often evokes feelings of pride and respect for those who serve in the Air Force.

Similar Named Colors
Smalt #003399 ΔE 1.56
Catalina Blue #062A78 ΔE 3.58
Egyptian Blue #1034A6 ΔE 3.59
International Klein Blue #002FA7 ΔE 3.72

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #00308F;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #00308F;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #00308F;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #00308F,
        #FFB41F
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #00308F,
        #FFB41F
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$air-force-blue-(usaf): #00308F;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$air-force-blue-(usaf)-r: 0;
$air-force-blue-(usaf)-g: 48;
$air-force-blue-(usaf)-b: 143;

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