#BEC3C8
- Brightness
- 194.1
- HSL (°,%,%)
- 210°, 8%, 76%
- HSV V %
- 78%
- Lab
- 78.5, -0.8, -3.1
- CMYK (%)
- 5%, 3%, 0%, 22%
- PNG size
- 6.0 KB
- Tone / Feel
- light, muted cool hue
Recommended text: Black (11.83:1 — AAA / AAA)
Color Profile: #BEC3C8
Common Name: Soft Steel Blue
Color Values:
RGB: 190, 195, 200
HSL: ~210°, 10%, 77%
Contrast Ratio:
Against White: 2.1:1 (Fails AA)
Against Black: 10.5:1 (Passes AA)
Mood & Usage:
This muted, cool gray-blue hue carries a calm, professional tone often found in modern design and architecture. It evokes a sense of stability and subtle sophistication, making it popular in environments requiring understated elegance, such as corporate branding and minimalist visual art. Its softness is easy on the eyes, fitting well with contemporary palettes that lean towards natural, muted colors.
Notable Color Matches:
- NCS 1950 Index: S 2005-R80B — Exact match #BEC3C8 ΔE=0.00
- British Standard BS 2660: Steel Blue — #BEC9CC ΔE=2.94
- Benjamin Moore: Gray Timber Wolf — #BBC2C7 ΔE=0.88
- Jotun Paint: Road Home — #BBBFC6 ΔE=1.75
- Pantone FHI: Micro Chip — #BBBEC3 ΔE=1.81
Why Designers Use It.
This color’s appeal lies in its subtle neutrality with a touch of coolness, making it extremely versatile across multiple design disciplines. It’s frequently chosen in visual art and design where a calming backdrop or a professional, non-distracting accent is needed. The muted steel-blue tone aligns well with industrial and tech aesthetics, often used in corporate identities, user interfaces, and architectural finishes where an understated yet modern feel is key. Its natural balance between gray and blue hints at both stability (gray) and trustworthiness (blue), which is why you’ll find it in safety equipment palettes, aviation interiors, and even textiles. Though not flashy, it works brilliantly in layered palettes that require soft contrast without overwhelming brightness. The relatively high contrast against black helps maintain readability in darker-themed designs, supporting accessibility in digital media. Overall, it embodies a quiet confidence that transcends fleeting trends, appealing to designers valuing timelessness and subtle sophistication.
Though sourced from the Natural Color System with a perfect ΔE of 0 against the standard, it harmonizes well with many paint and industrial standards worldwide, reflecting its broad acceptance and subtle adaptability. It neither screams novelty nor feels outdated, which makes it a safe and stylish choice for professional creatives globally.