Aqua Color / Colour Code #BCF5D9
This page shows the hex color code for aqua (#BCF5D9). The colour is a cyan tone with 74% saturation and 85% lightness. Explore its conversions, colour palettes, gradients, accessibility data, and CSS code below.
Color Conversions
Accessibility Contrast
WCAG contrast ratios for #BCF5D9 against common backgrounds.
Complementary Colors
#BCF5D9 paired with its color wheel opposite for maximum contrast.
Analogous Colors
Hues at 121, 151, and 181 degrees for harmonious combinations.
Triadic Palette
Three colors at 151, 271, and 31 degrees.
Color Palettes Using #BCF5D9
Five shades at lightness levels 15% through 85% while keeping hue at 151 and saturation at 74%. Use the darkest shade for text and the lightest for backgrounds to build a cohesive single-hue design system.
Adjacent hues from 151 to 196 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 151 with its complement at 331 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 #BCF5D9
Lightness variations at hue 151 and 74% saturation.
CSS Gradients with #BCF5D9
Design Use Cases for #BCF5D9
Vibrant Brand Color
#BCF5D9 has a strong 74% 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.
Near-White Background
At 85% lightness, #BCF5D9 is very close to white but carries a subtle cyan tint. This is perfect for alternating row backgrounds in tables, subtle section differentiation, and adding warmth or coolness to an otherwise stark white design.
Clarity & Technology
#BCF5D9 is in the cyan spectrum (hue 151). 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 #BCF5D9 (hue 151) to its complement at hue 331. For a subtler effect, try pairing with an analogous color at hue 181. Use CSS: background: linear-gradient(135deg, #bcf5d9, #f5bcd8);
CSS Code for #BCF5D9
Similar Colors
Colors visually similar to #BCF5D9 based on RGB, lightness, and hue variations.
Use This Color in Design Tools
Apply #BCF5D9 across image editing and color design tools.
About Aqua (#BCF5D9)
#BCF5D9 is a cyan color (colour) with RGB channel values of 188 red, 245 green, and 217 blue. The green channel is dominant with a relatively balanced channel distribution. In HSL terms, the hue sits at 151 degrees with 74% saturation and 85% lightness, placing it in the neutral-to-cool range of the colour spectrum.
The perceived brightness of #BCF5D9 is 225/255 using the ITU-R BT.601 luma formula (0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B). This means it appears bright to the human eye and is best paired with dark text for readability. For print production, the CMYK equivalent is 23% cyan, 0% magenta, 11% yellow, and 4% key (black).
The WCAG contrast ratio of #BCF5D9 against white is 1.22:1 and against black is 17.20:1. This does not meet AA requirements on white. Use it on dark backgrounds where it achieves 17.20:1, or use it exclusively for decorative purposes.
The complementary colour #F5BCD8 creates maximum visual tension when paired with #BCF5D9. For more harmonious color combinations, use the analogous colours #BCF5BD and #BCF4F5, 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 #BCF5D9
- 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 #BCF5D9?
- #BCF5D9 is Aqua, a cyan color (colour) with RGB(188, 245, 217), HSL(151, 74%, 85%), and CMYK(23%, 0%, 11%, 4%). Its perceived brightness is 225/255.
- Is #BCF5D9 accessible for text?
- Against white, #BCF5D9 has a contrast ratio of 1.22:1 (fails AA for normal text). Against black, it has 17.20:1 (passes AA). Use the contrast checker tool for custom background pairings.
- What colours pair well with #BCF5D9?
- The complementary colour is #F5BCD8 (hue 331). For subtle color combinations, use analogous colours #BCF5BD and #BCF4F5. The triadic palette adds #DABCF5 and #F5DABC for vibrant variety.
- How do I use #BCF5D9 in CSS?
- Use any format: color: #bcf5d9; or rgb(188, 245, 217); or hsl(151, 74%, 85%). For CSS custom properties: --color-primary: 151 74% 85%; 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.