Yale Blue

HEX: #0F4D92 | Modern Palette

On White
8.41:1
PASS
On Black
2.50:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#0F4D92
RGB
15, 77, 146
HSL
211°, 81% ,31%
CMYK
90, 47, 0, 43

About Yale Blue

Yale Blue (#0F4D92) is a color with RGB(15, 77, 146) and HSL(211.6°, 81.4%, 31.6%). It is commonly associated with Bold, Luxury moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #92540F, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #920F4D and #4D920F. The name comes from Yale Blue (English).

  • HEX: #0F4D92
  • RGB: 15, 77, 146
  • HSL: 211.6°, 81.4%, 31.6%
  • Mood: Bold, Luxury
  • Style: Vivid, Cool
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #92540F
  • Triadic colors: #920F4D, #4D920F
  • The name comes from Yale Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Yale Blue #0F4D92 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.
 
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
 
 
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

Yale Blue #0F4D92 pairs with #92540F as its complementary color, and #920F4D and #4D920F 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.

YALE BLUE
Analogous

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

YALE BLUE
Triadic

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

YALE BLUE
Split-Complementary

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

YALE BLUE
Tetradic (Square)

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

YALE BLUE
Monochromatic

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

YALE BLUE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Yale Blue #0F4D92 moves from dark #020C17 tones through the base color to lighter #E8F2FD tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

YALE BLUE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Bold Luxury
Style
Vivid Cool
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #424292
Protanopia #494992
Tritanopia #005A5A
Achromatopsia #4D4D4D

Frequently Asked Questions

Yale Blue (#0F4D92) is a color with RGB(15, 77, 146) and HSL(211.6°, 81.4%, 31.6%).

#0F4D92 pairs strongly with #92540F as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#0F4D92 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Cool styles.

#0F4D92 is commonly associated with Bold, Luxury.

The name Yale Blue is linked to Yale Blue from English, meaning A specific shade of blue associated with Yale University..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Yale Blue
Meaning A specific shade of blue associated with Yale University.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

Yale Blue is the official color of Yale University. Its adoption is often attributed to a rowing race against Harvard in 1894. Yale's crew wore blue handkerchiefs, and after their victory, the color became informally associated with the university. Over time, this specific shade of blue was formalized and is now a registered trademark of Yale University. It is a dark, rich blue, often described as a 'navy' or 'midnight' blue.

First Recorded Use

The exact first use as a formally recognized color is debated, but it became prominent in the 1890s.

Cultural Associations

Yale Blue is deeply ingrained in the identity of Yale University and its alumni. It is used extensively in university branding, athletic uniforms, merchandise, and publications. It symbolizes tradition, excellence, and the prestige associated with the Ivy League institution. The color is also recognized beyond the university as a specific shade of blue, often referenced in design and color theory contexts.

Similar Named Colors

USAFA Blue #004F98 ΔE 1.09
Medium Electric Blue #035096 ΔE 1.34
Dark Cerulean #08457E ΔE 3.34
Cyan Cobalt Blue #28589C ΔE 3.85

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #0F4D92;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #0F4D92;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #0F4D92;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #0F4D92,
        #92540F
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #0F4D92,
        #92540F
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$yale-blue: #0F4D92;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$yale-blue-r: 15;
$yale-blue-g: 77;
$yale-blue-b: 146;

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