Dark Slate Color
Dark Slate is a blue color with hex code #394851. This page covers its meaning, all color values, harmonies, colors that go with dark slate, shades, tints, similar colors, CSS examples, FAQs, and WCAG contrast ratios.
Dark Slate Color Values
What Does Dark Slate Mean?
Dark Slate belongs to the blue family of colors. Blue wins popularity surveys in every culture that runs them, and corporate design reflects it. Trust and stability are the usual words people reach for. Dark navies project authority, pale blues open a layout up, and almost nothing clashes with it. Being on the dark side, Dark Slate adds weight and depth. It suits text, shadows, and grounding elements more than wide-open backgrounds.
In the ISCC-NBS color naming system, Dark Slate is classified as a blue (nearest centroid: dark grayish blue, #36454F). It is also known as Limed Spruce.
Color Harmonies
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Colors That Go With Dark Slate
Dark Slate and #514239 are complements, parked opposite each other on the wheel. Together they hit maximum contrast, so a rough 70/30 split keeps the pairing from shouting.
Analogous neighbors — #39514E and #393C51, which sit beside dark slate on the wheel. Pairings like this feel calm and settled, which suits backgrounds and gradients.
For an energetic three-color palette, pair dark slate with triadic partners #513948 and #485139. All three sit evenly spaced around the wheel, so the scheme stays lively without clashing.
Build and test these combinations in our Color Wheel Tool or check text readability with the Contrast Checker.
Tints and Shades
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Similar Colors
- River Bed —
#434C59(Delta E 4) - Mako —
#444954(Delta E 4) - Oxford Blue —
#384555(Delta E 5) - Outer Space —
#414A4C(Delta E 5) - Trout —
#4A4E5A(Delta E 6)
CSS Examples
.text { color: #394851; }
.background { background-color: #394851; }
.border { border: 2px solid #394851; }
.shadow { box-shadow: 0 4px 6px #39485140; }WCAG Contrast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for dark slate?
Dark Slate has the hex code #394851. In RGB notation it is rgb(57, 72, 81), in HSL it is hsl(203, 17%, 27%), and its OKLCH value is 0.392, 0.025, 234.6.
What does the color dark slate mean?
Blue-family colors like dark slate carry distinct psychological associations. Dark Slate belongs to the blue family of colors. Blue wins popularity surveys in every culture that runs them, and corporate design reflects it. Trust and stability are the usual words people reach for. Dark navies project authority, pale blues open a layout up, and almost nothing clashes with it. Being on the dark side, Dark Slate adds weight and depth. It suits text, shadows, and grounding elements more than wide-open backgrounds.
What colors go with dark slate?
Dark Slate has three easy routes: its complement #514239 for punch, its neighbors #39514E and #393C51 for something calmer, or triadic partners #513948 and #485139 when you want energy.
Is dark slate a standard web color?
No — Dark Slate is not a CSS keyword. Use its hex value #394851 or any RGB/HSL equivalent in your stylesheets.
How do I make dark slate lighter or darker?
To lighten dark slate, add white to create tints; to darken it, add black to create shades. The tints and shades table above shows five computed steps of each, from #DBE2E6 (lightest tint) to #0B0D0F (darkest shade).
About Dark Slate
Dark Slate is classified as a Blue in the ISCC-NBS color naming system, within the Blue hue family. It has alternative names including Limed Spruce. The color is recognized by Resene, meodai.
Use our Color Converter to convert #394851 to any other color format, or explore the Color Wheel to find harmonious color combinations.