What color is Denim?
HEX
#1560BD
RGB
21, 96, 189
HSL
213°, 80%, 41%
HSV
213°, 89%, 74%
The indigo-workwear blue everyone recognizes from jeans — casual, durable, slightly weathered in imagination even when flat on screen. #1560BD bridges blue-collar heritage and streetwear. It ages well in branding because it already implies patina.
Best for
Investor materials, annual reports, and financial dashboards.
Accessibility
Denim text on white passes AA at 6.1:1, which makes it usable for headings and short labels.
How does denim compare to nearby colors?
What is the difference between denim and cobalt?
Denim (#1560BD) feels more softened on screen, while Cobalt (#0047AB) pushes the family in the opposite direction. Denim and Cobalt are close enough to substitute for each other, but they do not create the same supporting cast once typography, photography, and neutrals are added. Choose denim when the surrounding system aligns better with app UI, charts, and digital-native branding, and move to cobalt when the stronger contextual fit is enterprise, finance, and tailored corporate systems.
What color is denim?
Takes its name from denim fabric traditionally dyed with indigo. Ubiquitous in apparel, casual footwear, and Americana-inspired graphics.
What is the hex code for denim?
| Format | Value |
|---|---|
| HEX | #1560BD |
| RGB | rgb(21, 96, 189) |
| HSL | hsl(213°, 80%, 41%) |
| HSV / HSB | hsv(213°, 89%, 74%) |
| CMYK (approx.) | cmyk(89%, 49%, 0%, 26%) |
Convert Denim to other color formats
Open the color converter with Denim (#1560BD) prefilled to copy RGB, HSL, HSV, CMYK, or OKLCH values.
Convert Denim in the color converter →What does denim mean in design?
Denim is often associated with everyday comfort, authenticity, and rugged style. Next to sapphire or ocean blue, it tends to read as more textile-specific, warmer, and less "jewel" or "tropical water."
How do I use denim in code?
| CSS (hex) | color: #1560BD; |
| CSS (rgb) | color: rgb(21, 96, 189); |
| CSS (hsl) | color: hsl(213, 80%, 41%); |
| RGB % | rgb(8%, 38%, 74%) |
| Tailwind | text-[#1560BD] |
| SwiftUI | Color(red: 0.082, green: 0.376, blue: 0.741) |
| UIKit | UIColor(red: 0.082, green: 0.376, blue: 0.741, alpha: 1.0) |
| Android | Color.rgb(21, 96, 189) |
| Compose | Color(0xFF1560BD) |
| Web Safe | #0066CC |
Is denim accessible?
| Combination | Ratio | AA | AA lg | AAA | AAA lg | UI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AaWhite text on this color | 6.1:1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AaBlack text on this color | 3.44:1 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| AaThis color as text on white | 6.1:1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AaThis color as text on black | 3.44:1 | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
WCAG 2.1: AA normal ≥ 4.5:1, AA large text ≥ 3:1, AAA normal ≥ 7:1, AAA large ≥ 4.5:1, UI components ≥ 3:1.
How does denim look with color blindness?
Simulated appearance for common types of color vision deficiency. Actual perception varies by individual.
What colors go with denim
White helps denim stay legible in charts, labels, and UI states where a muddier light neutral would blur the edges.
With a cooler color like denim, gold adds richness and turns the system toward premium packaging, hospitality, or ceremonial branding.
Cream takes the hard digital edge off denim and makes the color feel more printed, paper-backed, and approachable.
What colors clash with denim
Neon Green turns denim into something closer to screen glow than surface color, which is a mismatch for most editorial, product, or deck work.
With denim, magenta introduces a second emotional story instead of reinforcing the first one, so the palette can feel internally split.
How should I use denim in design?
- •Denim carries enough visual weight for headlines, key UI elements, and section anchors — dark enough to command attention but clearly distinct from black.
- •Pair denim with warm accents (gold, rust, amber) when you need more energy, or stay in cool territory (navy, silver, sage) for a composed, professional look.
- •Vivid colors like denim work best as punctuation in a layout: CTAs, key metrics, or a single hero element. Surrounding neutrals keep it from fatiguing the viewer.
What are good denim palettes?
Deep command
Investor materials, annual reports, and financial dashboards.
Bare essentials
Brand guidelines, design systems, and visual identity documents.
Design with denim in Moda
Create a presentation or document using denim as your accent color. Moda's AI applies your color palette automatically.
Create a design with denim →What are the shades and tints of denim?
Shades (darker)
Tints (lighter)
Tones (desaturated)
Hue variations
What are the color harmonies for denim?
Harmonies are calculated from the base swatch. When a harmony matches a named color page, it links there; otherwise it appears here as a computed reference swatch.
Similar colors
Sapphire
Sapphire lives in the same neighborhood as denim, but the finish shift is enough to make one feel better for app UI, charts, and digital-native branding and the other for a different visual context.
Cobalt
Cobalt is almost the same hue as denim; the real difference is value, with cobalt feeling more grounded and anchor-ready.
Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue sits close to denim on the wheel, but it carries more pigment pressure, which makes it better for faster emphasis and brighter accent work than for broader coverage and quieter supporting roles.
Cerulean
Cerulean is almost the same hue as denim; the real difference is value, with cerulean feeling more grounded and anchor-ready.
Steel Blue
Steel Blue is almost the same hue as denim; the real difference is value, with steel blue feeling more open and surface-friendly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hex code for denim?
The hex code for denim is #1560BD. In RGB, that's 21 red, 96 green, and 189 blue. The approximate CMYK equivalent is 89% cyan, 49% magenta, 0% yellow, and 26% key (black).
Is denim a warm or cool color?
Denim reads as cool. It settles naturally beside blues, greens, silver, and charcoal, and feels more animated when paired with warm accents like gold, coral, or rust.
Is denim better as an accent or a full-palette color?
Denim is usually best when it leads in short bursts rather than covering everything. It can headline a palette, but most layouts work better when the color handles accents, highlights, or one main hero role instead of every surface.
How should I use denim in a design?
Denim is versatile enough for headlines, accent bars, buttons, charts, or section backgrounds depending on the contrast around it. It works as either a primary or supporting color in decks, documents, and brand systems.
Can I use denim for text or backgrounds?
Denim can work as text on white at 6.1:1 contrast, but it is usually safest in headings, labels, and accent moments rather than long body copy.
More blue colors
Keep exploring color resources
All color pages
Browse the full library of color references, pairings, and palettes.
Blue colors
Compare denim with other blue tones.
Green colors
Explore nearby color families to build stronger palettes and contrasts.
Neutral colors
Explore nearby color families to build stronger palettes and contrasts.
Purple colors
Explore nearby color families to build stronger palettes and contrasts.
Last updated April 6, 2026
Color values are computed from the listed hex code using standard conversion formulas. RGB, HSL, and HSV are exact screen-ready conversions. CMYK is an approximate on-screen reference, not a press-ready print specification. Pairings, palettes, and use-case guidance are heuristic recommendations derived from color relationships, contrast behavior, and common presentation, document, and UI patterns.