Maya Blue Color Psychology & Meaning
Maya blue is a brilliant turquoise-blue that looks like a piece of tropical sky. It feels ancient and alive at once, the color of temple murals that have outlasted entire civilizations.
#73C2FB
#9BD4F7
#CFEAFB
#1B3A5C
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Maya Blue Color Palette
#73C2FB · #9BD4F7 · #CFEAFB · #1B3A5C
AA
WCAG Grade
6.0:1
Contrast Ratio
1,050
Saves
2,840
AI Copies
Use #73C2FB as the background. Use #9BD4F7 as the primary accent. Use #CFEAFB as secondary. Use #1B3A5C as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Maya Blue — ancient, bright, cultural.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Maya 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: 49.2% | 115, 194, 251 | 54%, 23%, 0%, 2% | 205°, 94%, 72% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 60.8% | 155, 212, 247 | 37%, 14%, 0%, 3% | 203°, 85%, 79% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 79.1% | 207, 234, 251 | 18%, 7%, 0%, 2% | 203°, 85%, 90% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 4.0% | 27, 58, 92 | 71%, 37%, 0%, 64% | 211°, 55%, 23% |
Maya 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 Maya Blue palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#73C2FB saturated cyan-blue
#9BD4F7 saturated cyan-blue
#CFEAFB saturated cyan-blue
#1B3A5C gently saturated cyan-blue
Maya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1B3A5C on #CFEAFB |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.31:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #CFEAFB on #1B3A5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 9.31:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1B3A5C on #9BD4F7 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.28:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #9BD4F7 on #1B3A5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.28:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #1B3A5C on #73C2FB |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.00:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #73C2FB on #1B3A5C |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.00:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #CFEAFB on #73C2FB |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.55:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #73C2FB on #CFEAFB |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.55:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #CFEAFB on #9BD4F7 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #9BD4F7 on #CFEAFB |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.28:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #9BD4F7 on #73C2FB |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #73C2FB on #9BD4F7 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Maya 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
Created by the Maya around 800 AD by binding indigo with palygorskite clay, Maya blue was so stable that it still glows on murals today. The recipe was a closely guarded secret that survived centuries.
Best Design Use Cases
Use Maya blue for cultural brand surfaces and bright, tropical accents. The pale sky tones cover backgrounds, while the deep indigo anchors text with historical depth.
Industries This Palette Suits
Cultural tourism, art, heritage brands, beverages, textiles.
Colors That Pair Well With Maya 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 #9BD4F7 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
blue
30° beside #9BD4F7 — 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 Maya Blue Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #9BD4F7 for small UI elements on #73C2FB — at 1.2:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #1B3A5C — 6.0:1 against #73C2FB passes WCAG AA (AA) for long-form reading.
- Don't use #CFEAFB behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Maya Blue Color Scheme
To use this Maya 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 #73C2FB for the main background and #9BD4F7 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #1B3A5C and #73C2FB is 6.00:1 (AA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Maya Blue Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Maya Blue color palette?
The Maya Blue palette contains #73C2FB, #9BD4F7, #CFEAFB, #1B3A5C. 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 Maya Blue color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #1B3A5C on #CFEAFB reaches 9.3:1 (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 Maya Blue palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #F4A371, #A1ABF2, #101519 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 Maya Blue palette create?
Maya Blue reads as ancient, bright, cultural. Saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Maya Blue color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Maya 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 Maya 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 Maya Blue's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.