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RoyalBlue and SaddleBrown

Split-Complementary color combination with 1.46:1 contrast ratio

#4169E1
#8B4513

Color Values

RoyalBlue
HEX #4169E1
RGB 65, 105, 225
HSL 225, 73%, 57%
SaddleBrown
HEX #8B4513
RGB 139, 69, 19
HSL 25, 76%, 31%

Harmony: Split-Complementary

This is a split-complementary pairing: one color paired with the two neighbors of its complement. It offers most of the contrast of a complementary scheme with less tension, making it easier to balance.

The hue angle between RoyalBlue and SaddleBrown is 160 degrees. You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

1.46:1
RoyalBlue background with SaddleBrown text
Below AA — decorative use only

UI Preview

RoyalBlue surface

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

SaddleBrown surface

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

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #4169E1;
  --color-b: #8B4513;
  --color-a-rgb: 65, 105, 225;
  --color-b-rgb: 139, 69, 19;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "RoyalBlue and SaddleBrown",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "RoyalBlue",
      "hex": "#4169E1",
      "rgb": [
        65,
        105,
        225
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "SaddleBrown",
      "hex": "#8B4513",
      "rgb": [
        139,
        69,
        19
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Split-Complementary",
  "contrastRatio": 1.46
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do royalblue and saddlebrown go together?

Yes. RoyalBlue and SaddleBrown form a split-complementary color combination. This is a split-complementary pairing: one color paired with the two neighbors of its complement. It offers most of the contrast of a complementary scheme with less tension, making it easier to balance. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 1.46:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.

What is the contrast ratio between royalblue and saddlebrown?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between RoyalBlue (#4169E1) and SaddleBrown (#8B4513) is 1.46:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.

How do I use royalblue and saddlebrown 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. If one color is significantly darker, use it for text or structural elements and the lighter one for backgrounds. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.

What are the hex and RGB values for royalblue and saddlebrown?

RoyalBlue has the hex code #4169E1 and RGB values rgb(65, 105, 225). SaddleBrown has the hex code #8B4513 and RGB values rgb(139, 69, 19). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.