Exploring the Color #85A6B4

#85A6B4 sits at 198° on the color wheel, placing it in the azure family of the cool half of the spectrum. With 24% saturation and 61% lightness, it reads as a softly muted, light tone — a balanced mid-energy presence that sits comfortably alongside other UI tones. Its RGB mix of 133, 166, 180 produces a 8.11:1 contrast ratio against black, which clears WCAG AAA for body text in that pairing.

In RGB space #85A6B4 is a distant relative of CSS gray — about 65 units away from #808080. Designers reach for azure hues at this saturation when the brief calls for restraint and atmosphere, and at this lightness when they want a present, comfortable mid-canvas voice. On screen the cool cast tends to pair best with warm neutrals in the 25°-45° range to add life.

Darkening Shades

Lightening Shades