Kingfisher Blue Color Psychology & Meaning
The kingfisher is one of the most saturated blues in nature, a flash of electric color over rivers. The palette of ice to deep blue reads as speed, freshness, and the sudden beauty of the natural world.
#F0F5F8
#C0D8E8
#1A6AB8
#0A1A3A
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Kingfisher Blue Color Palette
#F0F5F8 · #C0D8E8 · #1A6AB8 · #0A1A3A
AAA
WCAG Grade
15.7:1
Contrast Ratio
1,400
Saves
3,600
AI Copies
Use #F0F5F8 as the background. Use #C0D8E8 as the primary accent. Use #1A6AB8 as secondary. Use #0A1A3A as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Kingfisher Blue — vivid, fresh, striking.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Kingfisher Blue color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 90.6% | 240, 245, 248 | 3%, 1%, 0%, 3% | 202°, 36%, 96% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 66.1% | 192, 216, 232 | 17%, 7%, 0%, 9% | 204°, 47%, 83% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 14.0% | 26, 106, 184 | 86%, 42%, 0%, 28% | 210°, 75%, 41% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.1% | 10, 26, 58 | 83%, 55%, 0%, 77% | 220°, 71%, 13% |
Kingfisher Blue Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Kingfisher Blue palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#F0F5F8 gently saturated cyan-blue
#C0D8E8 gently saturated cyan-blue
#1A6AB8 saturated cyan-blue
#0A1A3A saturated blue
Kingfisher Blue Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #0A1A3A on #F0F5F8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 15.65:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F0F5F8 on #0A1A3A |
Aa Sample Text
| 15.65:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #0A1A3A on #C0D8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.65:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #C0D8E8 on #0A1A3A |
Aa Sample Text
| 11.65:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1A6AB8 on #F0F5F8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.04:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #F0F5F8 on #1A6AB8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.04:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #1A6AB8 on #C0D8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.75:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C0D8E8 on #1A6AB8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.75:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #0A1A3A on #1A6AB8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.11:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #1A6AB8 on #0A1A3A |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.11:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #C0D8E8 on #F0F5F8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.34:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F0F5F8 on #C0D8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.34:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Kingfisher Blue palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Kingfishers have been admired since antiquity, and the blue of their feathers was thought to calm storms at sea. The bird appears in mythologies from Greece to the Pacific, always as a bringer of calm over water.
Best Design Use Cases
Use the ice blue for backgrounds, the pale blue for cards, and the kingfisher blue for primary accents. The deep navy works for text and contrast.
Industries This Palette Suits
Travel, rivers and waterways, conservation, fishing, nature education, fresh brands.
Colors That Pair Well With Kingfisher Blue
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
orange
directly opposite #C0D8E8 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
blue
30° beside #C0D8E8 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Kingfisher Blue Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #C0D8E8 for small UI elements on #F0F5F8 — at 1.3:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #0A1A3A — 15.7:1 against #F0F5F8 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #1A6AB8 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #C0D8E8.
How to Implement the Kingfisher Blue Color Scheme
To use this Kingfisher Blue color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #F0F5F8 for the main background and #C0D8E8 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #0A1A3A and #F0F5F8 is 15.65:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Kingfisher Blue Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Kingfisher Blue color palette?
The Kingfisher Blue palette contains #F0F5F8, #C0D8E8, #1A6AB8, #0A1A3A. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Kingfisher Blue color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #0A1A3A on #F0F5F8 reaches 15.7:1 (AAA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Kingfisher Blue palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #D6AB8F, #C4C7E4, #131516 extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Kingfisher Blue palette create?
Kingfisher Blue reads as vivid, fresh, striking. Gently saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Kingfisher Blue color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Kingfisher Blue palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Kingfisher Blue palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Kingfisher Blue's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.