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CadetBlue and Red

Complementary color combination with 1.31:1 contrast ratio

#5F9EA0
#FF0000

Color Values

CadetBlue
HEX #5F9EA0
RGB 95, 158, 160
HSL 182, 25%, 50%
Red
HEX #FF0000
RGB 255, 0, 0
HSL 0, 100%, 50%

Harmony: Complementary

These colors sit opposite each other on the wheel, producing maximum visual contrast. Complementary pairings are vibrant and attention-grabbing, but a 70/30 split keeps them from shouting.

The hue angle between CadetBlue and Red is 178 degrees. You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

1.31:1
CadetBlue background with Red text
Below AA — decorative use only

UI Preview

CadetBlue surface

Sample text on a cadetblue background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Red surface

Sample text on a red background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #5F9EA0;
  --color-b: #FF0000;
  --color-a-rgb: 95, 158, 160;
  --color-b-rgb: 255, 0, 0;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "CadetBlue and Red",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "CadetBlue",
      "hex": "#5F9EA0",
      "rgb": [
        95,
        158,
        160
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Red",
      "hex": "#FF0000",
      "rgb": [
        255,
        0,
        0
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Complementary",
  "contrastRatio": 1.31
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cadetblue and red go together?

Yes. CadetBlue and Red form a complementary color combination. These colors sit opposite each other on the wheel, producing maximum visual contrast. Complementary pairings are vibrant and attention-grabbing, but a 70/30 split keeps them from shouting. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 1.31:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.

What is the contrast ratio between cadetblue and red?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between CadetBlue (#5F9EA0) and Red (#FF0000) is 1.31:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.

How do I use cadetblue and red in design?

A safe starting point is the 60/30/10 rule: give one color about 60 percent of the surface area, the other about 30 percent, and reserve the remaining 10 percent for an accent or neutral. Since these are complementary colors, lean toward a 70/25/5 split to keep the contrast from becoming overwhelming. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.

What are the hex and RGB values for cadetblue and red?

CadetBlue has the hex code #5F9EA0 and RGB values rgb(95, 158, 160). Red has the hex code #FF0000 and RGB values rgb(255, 0, 0). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.