Air Force Blue (RAF)

HEX: #5D8AA8 | blue

On White
3.71:1
FAIL
On Black
5.67:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#5D8AA8
RGB
93, 138, 168
HSL
204°, 44% ,65%
CMYK
44.64, 17.86, 0, 34.12

About Air Force Blue (RAF)

Air Force Blue (RAF) (#5D8AA8) is a color with RGB(93, 138, 168) and HSL(204°, 44.64%, 65.88%). It is commonly associated with Calm moods. In design, it fits Cool styles and is suitable for Text, Logo, Print. Its complementary color is #A87B5D, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #A85D8A and #8AA85D. The name comes from Air Force Blue (English).

  • HEX: #5D8AA8
  • RGB: 93, 138, 168
  • HSL: 204°, 44.64%, 65.88%
  • Mood: Calm
  • Style: Cool
  • Use case: Text, Logo, Print
  • Complementary color: #A87B5D
  • Triadic colors: #A85D8A, #8AA85D
  • The name comes from Air Force Blue (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

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

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

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

Triadic

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

Split-Complementary

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

Tetradic (Square)

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

Monochromatic

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

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #5D8AA8 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Calm
Style
Cool
Use case
Text Logo Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #7F7FA9
Protanopia #8686A8
Tritanopia #558E8E
Achromatopsia #858585

Frequently Asked Questions

Air Force Blue (RAF) (#5D8AA8) is a color with RGB(93, 138, 168) and HSL(204°, 44.64%, 65.88%).

#5D8AA8 pairs strongly with #A87B5D as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#5D8AA8 is suitable for Text, Logo, Print and works well with Cool styles.

#5D8AA8 is commonly associated with Calm.

The name Air Force Blue (RAF) is linked to Air Force Blue from English, meaning The blue color used for the uniforms of an air force, specifically the Royal Air Force..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Air Force Blue
Meaning The blue color used for the uniforms of an air force, specifically the Royal Air Force.
Language English
First Recorded Use Early 20th Century

History

The Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed in 1918, consolidating the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. A distinctive blue uniform was adopted to differentiate it from the army and navy, establishing 'Air Force Blue' as its official color. This specific shade became iconic for the RAF's service dress.

First Recorded Use

1918

Cultural Associations

Air Force Blue (RAF) is strongly associated with British military aviation and national pride. It symbolizes the service and sacrifice of RAF personnel and is instantly recognizable in the UK.

Similar Named Colors
Silver Lake Blue #5D89BA ΔE 5.24
Steel Blue #4682B4 ΔE 5.44
Cyan Azure #4E82B4 ΔE 5.49
Cyan-blue Azure #4682BF ΔE 6.53

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #5D8AA8;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #5D8AA8;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #5D8AA8;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #5D8AA8,
        #CFA081
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #5D8AA8,
        #CFA081
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$air-force-blue-(raf): #5D8AA8;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$air-force-blue-(raf)-r: 93;
$air-force-blue-(raf)-g: 138;
$air-force-blue-(raf)-b: 168;

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