Cyan
Aqua
Aqua
#AFDFE4Click to copy
Aqua Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →HEX#AFDFE4Copy
RGBrgb(175, 223, 228)Copy
HSLhsl(186, 50%, 79%)Copy
HSV/HSBhsv(186, 23%, 89%)Copy
CMYKcmyk(23%, 2%, 0%, 11%)Copy
Aqua Color Schemes
Complementary
#AFDFE4
Click to copy#E4B4AF
Click to copyAnalogous
#AFE4CF
Click to copy#AFC5E4
Click to copySplit Complementary
#E4AFC5
Click to copy#E4CFAF
Click to copyMonochromatic
#AFDFE4
Click to copy#FCFDFD
Click to copy#FFFFFF
Click to copy#63C0CA
Click to copy#328B95
Click to copy#184449
Click to copyAqua WCAG Accessibility Contrast
WCAG Calculator →The contrast ratio of this color against common foreground/background colors (based on the WCAG 2.1 standard)
Sample text Aa
White background #FFFFFF
1.45 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Black background #000000
14.50 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Light gray background #F5F5F5
1.33 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Sample text Aa
Dark gray background #333333
8.72 : 1
AA NormalAA LargeAAA NormalAAA Large
Aqua Shade Variants
Gradient Generator →Lighten with White Mixed with white for a lighter, softer color
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Darken with Black Mixed with black for a deeper, heavier color
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Muted / Morandi Mixed with gray and desaturated for a sophisticated muted tone
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Aqua Color Introduction
Definition
Aqua (HEX #AFDFE4) has the RGB value rgb(175, 223, 228), the HSL value hsl(186°, 50%, 79%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(23%, 2%, 0%, 11%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Aqua is #E4B4AF, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #AFE4CF and #AFC4E4 that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#E4AFC4, #E4CEAF) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Aqua uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Aqua has a contrast ratio of 1.45:1 against white and 14.50:1 against black; paired with a black background it reaches AAA, making it ideal for text and accent colors in dark mode.
Color Characteristics
Cyan sits between blue and green, evoking lakes, glaciers and the early morning sky. Clear and tech-savvy, it performs especially well in tech branding and summer themes. Specifically, Aqua has a lightness of 79% and a saturation of 50%, bright and airy, ideal as a light background or accent color that creates a soft, comfortable atmosphere; moreover, its saturation is moderate, keeping the color’s emotional expression without becoming overly assertive. In a word: A delicate water color.
Color Psychology
Cyan can evoke freshness, calm and trust, with a marked calming effect; psychologically it symbolizes purity, professionalism and technology. For this reason Aqua tends to leave a first impression of being fresh and pure in the viewer’s mind, and this emotional tone also defines the role it plays in design.
Best Uses
Cyan suits tech products, summer themes, cleaning and care products and any scene that needs a fresh, modern feel. In real projects, Aqua is also often used as a light background or supporting negative space; in “Cyan”-themed designs, the adjacent colors or lightness gradients built around it quickly establish a cohesive, clearly layered color scheme.
Aqua Featured In
This color is included in the following color cards and color families. Click a card to browse more colors in the corresponding collection.