Where #A2CFFE comes from
There is no CSS keyword for baby blue. The value here is the “Baby Blue” entry in the open colour-name list our colour names tool uses. Its hue is 211°, a true blue, with very high saturation (98%) at high lightness (82%). That combination is what makes it look clean and pastel rather than grey.
Baby blue vs sky blue vs light blue
These three get mixed up constantly. The easiest way to tell them apart is the hue: baby blue is pure blue, while sky blue and light blue lean towards cyan, so they look slightly greener.
| Name | HEX | Hue | Looks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby blue | #A2CFFE | 211° | Pastel and clear, no green in it |
| Sky blue (CSS) | #87CEEB | 197° | Brighter and more turquoise |
| Light blue (CSS) | #ADD8E6 | 195° | Greyer, more muted |
| Powder blue (CSS) | #B0E0E6 | 187° | Chalky and closest to cyan |
See sky blue for the brighter end of the family.
Text on baby blue
Use dark text. White on #A2CFFE is only 1.63:1, so it is unreadable for anything but huge decorative letters. Black gives 12.89:1, and navy (#000080) gives 9.83:1 if you want something softer that stays in the blue family.
What goes with baby blue
- Nurseries and baby showers: baby blue with ivory and soft pink is the classic gentle set.
- More grown-up: pair it with navy and silver so the pastel reads as calm rather than childish.
- Web backgrounds: use it for section bands or info boxes, not for body text areas, where it makes long reading tiring.
Questions
What is the RGB code for baby blue?
rgb(162, 207, 254), or hsl(211, 98%, 82%).
Will baby blue print the same way?
Probably a little duller. Saturated pastels like this one sit near the edge of what CMYK printing can produce, so ask for a proof if the shade matters (invitations, for example).