RAL and NCS values are nearest equivalents, not official designations.
In the United States, Columbia Blue is closely linked to education and institutions, particularly Columbia University, where it symbolizes intellectual pursuit. Conversely, in other regions, it might simply represent calmness and clarity, contrasting with deeper blues that convey authority or seriousness.
The term 'Columbia Blue' was first used in the late 19th century, specifically in 1910, when it was adopted by Columbia University as one of its official colors. The name 'Columbia' itself is a historical reference to Christopher Columbus, reflecting the nation's early identity and spirit.
Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Columbia Blue. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).
All 45 Blues →Nine steps of Columbia Blue by lightness — from #667076 (darkest) to #E0EBF0 (lightest). Click any to copy.
Sitting opposite Columbia Blue at 20° on the color wheel, these give the highest-contrast pairings.
Curated 5-color combinations featuring Columbia Blue.
Brands and institutions known for using Columbia Blue.
A 50–900 tonal scale with Columbia Blue anchored at 500 — ready to drop into a design system. Click any step to copy.
Works well as text on dark backgrounds; fails on light.
Thresholds: AA needs 4.5:1 (normal text) / 3:1 (large); AAA needs 7:1 / 4.5:1. Large = 18pt+ or 14pt+ bold.
Copy-ready values for CSS, screen and print, plus the extra conversions designers reach for.
color: #C4D8E2; color-mix(in srgb, #C4D8E2 70%, white) 200°, 13%, 89% 13, 4, 0, 11 12900578 #CCCCCC How Columbia Blue appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.