Color #166C63 Color / Colour Code #166C63
This page shows the hex color code for color #166c63 (#166C63). The colour is a cyan tone with 66% saturation and 25% lightness. Explore its conversions, colour palettes, gradients, accessibility data, and CSS code below.
Color Conversions
Accessibility Contrast
WCAG contrast ratios for #166C63 against common backgrounds.
Complementary Colors
#166C63 paired with its color wheel opposite for maximum contrast.
Analogous Colors
Hues at 144, 174, and 204 degrees for harmonious combinations.
Triadic Palette
Three colors at 174, 294, and 54 degrees.
Color Palettes Using #166C63
Five shades at lightness levels 15% through 85% while keeping hue at 174 and saturation at 66%. Use the darkest shade for text and the lightest for backgrounds to build a cohesive single-hue design system.
Adjacent hues from 174 to 219 degrees create a warm, unified palette. This analogous scheme works for marketing materials, seasonal campaigns, and any design that needs visual warmth without clashing colors.
Combines the base color at hue 174 with its complement at 354 and two adjacent cool tones. This split-complementary approach provides strong visual contrast while remaining more balanced than a pure complementary scheme.
Five evenly spaced hues at 40% saturation and 80% lightness. Pastels are gentle on the eyes and work well for dashboards, onboarding screens, category tags, and any interface where multiple distinct colors are needed without visual aggression.
Shades & Tints of #166C63
Lightness variations at hue 174 and 66% saturation.
CSS Gradients with #166C63
Design Use Cases for #166C63
Vibrant Brand Color
#166C63 has a strong 66% saturation that makes it ideal for brand identity elements. Use it for logos, primary call-to-action buttons, hero section accents, and marketing materials where visual impact matters. This saturation level is eye-catching without being harsh.
Deep Accent & Text Color
#166C63 at 25% lightness is dark enough for readable body text on light backgrounds while retaining its cyan character. Use for headings, emphasized text, or deep accent borders. It provides contrast without the harshness of pure black.
Clarity & Technology
#166C63 is in the cyan spectrum (hue 174). Cyan evokes technology, clarity, and innovation. It works well for tech product interfaces, data visualization accents, loading indicators, and futuristic design themes. Cyan provides a modern alternative to traditional blues.
Gradient Pairing
Create a gradient from #166C63 (hue 174) to its complement at hue 354. For a subtler effect, try pairing with an analogous color at hue 204. Use CSS: background: linear-gradient(135deg, #166c63, #6a161e);
CSS Code for #166C63
Similar Colors
Colors visually similar to #166C63 based on RGB, lightness, and hue variations.
Use This Color in Design Tools
Apply #166C63 across image editing and color design tools.
About Color #166C63 (#166C63)
#166C63 is a cyan color (colour) with RGB channel values of 22 red, 108 green, and 99 blue. The green channel is dominant by a ratio of 4.9:1 over the weakest channel. In HSL terms, the hue sits at 174 degrees with 66% saturation and 25% lightness, placing it in the neutral-to-cool range of the colour spectrum.
The perceived brightness of #166C63 is 81/255 using the ITU-R BT.601 luma formula (0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B). This appears dark to the human eye, so pair it with light text for adequate readability. For print production, the CMYK equivalent is 80% cyan, 0% magenta, 8% yellow, and 58% key (black).
The WCAG contrast ratio of #166C63 against white is 6.25:1 and against black is 3.36:1. This meets the AA requirement (4.5:1) for normal text on white. For AAA compliance, consider darkening to at least 18% lightness.
The complementary colour #6A161E creates maximum visual tension when paired with #166C63. For more harmonious color combinations, use the analogous colours #166A37 and #16486A, which sit 30 degrees on either side of the hue wheel. To build a complete design system, start with the monochromatic scale above for consistent shade variations, then add one complementary or triadic accent for interactive elements.
How to Explore Color #166C63
- Enter your color value in HEX format.
- The tool converts it to RGB, HSL, CMYK format in real time.
- Copy the converted value to your clipboard.
What is HEX to RGB, HSL, CMYK color conversion
Converting from HEX to RGB, HSL, CMYK translates a color value between two different color models. Different color models are used in web design (HEX, RGB), print (CMYK), and color theory (HSL, HSV).
Related Tools & Colors
Frequently Asked Questions
- What color / colour is #166C63?
- #166C63 is Color #166C63, a cyan color (colour) with RGB(22, 108, 99), HSL(174, 66%, 25%), and CMYK(80%, 0%, 8%, 58%). Its perceived brightness is 81/255.
- Is #166C63 accessible for text?
- Against white, #166C63 has a contrast ratio of 6.25:1 (passes AA for normal text). Against black, it has 3.36:1 (fails AA). Use the contrast checker tool for custom background pairings.
- What colours pair well with #166C63?
- The complementary colour is #6A161E (hue 354). For subtle color combinations, use analogous colours #166A37 and #16486A. The triadic palette adds #61166A and #6A6116 for vibrant variety.
- How do I use #166C63 in CSS?
- Use any format: color: #166c63; or rgb(22, 108, 99); or hsl(174, 66%, 25%). For CSS custom properties: --color-primary: 174 66% 25%; then use it as hsl(var(--color-primary)).
- Is this color / colour explorer free?
- Yes, completely free with no signup required. All colour calculations run in your browser. You can explore any valid hex color code, not just the pre-generated palette.