Columbia Blue

#C4D8E2

What color is Columbia Blue?

Columbia blue is a soft, muted sky blue with a slight grey-green undertone, hex #C4D8E2, similar in tone to a pale robin's egg. It is lighter and hazier than a clear summer sky, with a quiet, washed-out quality.

What is the meaning of the color Columbia Blue?

Columbia University in New York City adopted this shade of blue as part of its official athletic identity, with the color in use since the late 19th century. The name connects directly to the university, where it became a recognized identifier for its sports teams and institutional branding. Lighter and cooler than royal blue, it was chosen to stand apart from the deeper blues used by rival Ivy League schools. Columbia blue is the registered team color of Columbia University Athletics.

RGB
196, 216, 226
HSL
200°, 34%, 83%
CMYK
13, 4, 0, 11
HSV
200°, 13%, 89%
Columbia blue color

What colors go with Columbia Blue?

Colors that pair well with Columbia blue include:
Navy: deep, anchoring contrast
White: crisp, clean brightness
Warm grey: subtle, balanced softness
Sage green: quiet, natural harmony
Dusty rose: gentle, warm complement

Similar Colors

Conversions & Codes

Format Value CSS
HEX #C4D8E2 color: #C4D8E2;
RGB 196, 216, 226 color: rgb(196, 216, 226);
RGB Percentage 77%, 85%, 89% color: rgb(77%, 85%, 89%);
CMYK 13%, 4%, 0%, 11% Not supported in CSS
HSL 200°, 34%, 83% color: hsl(200, 34%, 83%);
HSV 200°, 13%, 89% Not supported in CSS
CIE-LAB 66, -4, -3 color: lab(66% -4 -3);
Decimal 12900578 Not supported in CSS

Color Variations

Shades

#C5D9E2
#A9C6D4
#8CB3C6
#70A0B8
#548DAA
#46768E
#385E71
#2A4755

Tints

#EEF3F6
#E8F0F4
#E2ECF1
#DCE8EE
#D6E4EB
#D1E0E8
#CBDCE5
#C5D9E2

Tones

#C5D9E2
#C6D8E1
#C8D8DF
#C9D7DE
#CBD7DC
#CCD6DB
#CED6DA
#CFD5D8

Hues

#C5D9E2
#C7C5E2
#DDC5E2
#E2C5D1
#E2CFC5
#E0E2C5
#CAE2C5
#C5E2D6

Color Harmonies

Analogous

#C5E2DD
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#C4D8E2
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#C5CAE2
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Complementary

#C4D8E2
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#E2CFC5
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Split Complementary

#C4D8E2
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#E2C5CA
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#E2DDC5
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Triadic

#C4D8E2
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#E2C5D9
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#D9E2C5
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Tetradic

#C4D8E2
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#DDC5E2
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#E2CFC5
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#CAE2C5
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Square

#C4D8E2
Click to copy
#DDC5E2
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#E2CFC5
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#CAE2C5
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CSS & Dev Snippets

CSS
.columbia-blue {
  color: #C4D8E2;
}
SCSS
$columbia-blue: #C4D8E2;
RGB
rgb(196, 216, 226)

Accessibility & Contrast

White background

1.47:1
1.47
contrast ratio on a white background
Element
AA
AAA
Small text
Large text
UI element

Black background

14.27:1
14.27
contrast ratio on a black background
Element
AA
AAA
Small text
Large text
UI element

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