Slate Blue #6A5ACD

Slate blue, in its CSS form #6A5ACD, is a medium blue-violet with a cool tone and moderate saturation. It sits between periwinkle and indigo, closer to purple than the name suggests. Its closest match in nature is the blue-purple light that lingers after sunset, and it turns up often in creative and tech branding.

Despite the name, CSS slateblue (#6A5ACD) is a fairly saturated blue-violet and looks nothing like slate rock. Paint brands often use 'slate blue' for a muted gray-blue, which is a very different color.

#6A5ACD

Slate Blue color codes
HEX	`#6A5ACD`
RGB	`rgb(106, 90, 205)`
HSL	`hsl(248, 53%, 58%)`
HSV	`hsv(248, 56%, 80%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(48%, 56%, 0%, 20%)`

Make a palette with Slate Blue What goes with it

Text on Slate Blue

White text reads better on Slate Blue. Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula: 4.5:1 passes AA for body text, 3:1 passes for large text.

White text

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

5.30:1 · AA

Black text

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

3.95:1 · AA large

Colors that go with Slate Blue

#FFD700GoldNear-complement that makes the violet tone glow.#FF7F50CoralWarm, modern contrast for tech and creative brands.#D3D3D3Light GrayQuiet neutral for clean interfaces.#FFFFFFWhiteCrisp background that keeps it bright and readable.#C8A2C8LilacSoft tonal partner for gentle gradients.

Slate Blue tints and shades

Tints mix Slate Blue with white, shades mix it with black, in 15% steps. Copy any code, or open the tint and shade generator for a full scale.

Tints

#8073D5

#978CDC

#ADA4E4

#C3BDEB

#DAD6F3

Shades

#5A4DAE

#4A3F90

#3A3271

#2A2452

#1B1733

Slate Blue color schemes

Color-wheel harmonies built by rotating the hue of #6A5ACD and keeping its saturation and lightness.

Complementary

#6A5ACD

#BDCD5A

Analogous

#5A84CD

#6A5ACD

#A45ACD

Triadic

#6A5ACD

#CD6A5A

#5ACD6A

Split complementary

#6A5ACD

#CDA35A

#84CD5A

Tetradic

#6A5ACD

#CD5A84

#BDCD5A

#5ACDA3

Slate Blue color meaning

Because it straddles blue and purple, slate blue borrows from both. The blue side brings calm and reliability, and the violet side brings imagination and a hint of mystery. The mix reads as thoughtful and creative.

It does not have deep cultural symbolism of its own, so its meaning comes from context and from the colors around it. In tech products it feels modern and friendly, a softer alternative to a standard blue. In illustration it suggests twilight and dreaminess.

The naming confusion matters for anyone choosing it. Ask for 'slate blue' at a paint counter and you may get a dusty gray-blue. Use the CSS keyword and you get this brighter violet. Always check the swatch before trusting the name.

How to use Slate Blue in design

White text reads well on #6A5ACD, so it works for buttons, badges, and header bands. It is popular in SaaS and creative tools as a primary color that stands apart from the usual blues. Dark text on it is weak at small sizes.

Pair it with warm yellows or golds for contrast, or with light grays for a calm interface. It can look indecisive beside other blues and purples, so give it room. In interiors, a slate blue accent wall reads moody and modern with brass and pale wood.

Palettes with Slate Blue tones

Curated palettes with a color close to #6A5ACD.

Night Owl Indigo Ink Summer Solstice Ink Drop Electric Blue Neon Lights

Colors similar to Slate Blue

#7851A9Royal Purple #4169E1Royal Blue #9966CCAmethyst #1560BDDenim Blue #0F52BASapphire #4682B4Steel Blue

Work with Slate Blue

Palette generatorBuild a palette around #6A5ACD Contrast checkerTest text on this color Tint and shade generatorA full scale for CSS or Tailwind Color wheelEvery harmony for this hue Color pickerAdjust it and convert formats Color mixerBlend it with another color

Slate Blue FAQ

Is slate blue blue or purple?

The CSS version, #6A5ACD, leans purple. It is a blue-violet, more like a deeper periwinkle than a true blue. Paint and fashion brands sometimes use 'slate blue' for a grayish blue instead, so it depends on the source. Check the hex code or a physical swatch before choosing.

What is the difference between slate blue and slate gray?

Slate gray (#708090) is a cool gray with a slight blue tint, close to the color of actual slate stone. Slate blue (#6A5ACD) is far more colorful, a saturated blue-violet. They share a name root but look very different, and only slate gray resembles the rock.