Skobeloff Color Palette
Skobeloff is hex #007474, rgb(0, 116, 116). Skobeloff is a deep teal named after the Russian general Mikhail Skobelev, whose uniform color it was. It is a rare, distinctive alternative to standard teal.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Skobeloff color codes
Reading the skobeloff color codes
The hex code #007474 is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. 00 is 0, 74 is 116 and 74 is 116, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(0, 116, 116) in CSS. The green channel is the strongest here, which is what gives skobeloff its cyan character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 180 degrees places skobeloff in the cyan part of the color wheel. Saturation of 100% makes it vivid, and lightness of 23% makes it a dark color. HSL is the easiest format to adjust by hand: keep the hue, then raise or lower lightness to create tints and shades that stay in the same family.
For print, the approximate CMYK mix is 100% cyan, 0% magenta, 0% yellow and 55% black. Screen and print colors never match perfectly, because monitors emit light while ink absorbs it, so always proof a printed sample before committing to skobeloff for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Skobeloff shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #007474, so you can use skobeloff for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"skobeloff": {
50: "#DCECEC",
100: "#C4DFDF",
200: "#ABD1D1",
300: "#93C4C4",
400: "#7AB7B7",
500: "#62A9A9",
600: "#499C9C",
700: "#318F8F",
800: "#188181",
900: "#007474",
950: "#004D4D",
},
},
},
}:root {
--skobeloff-50: #DCECEC;
--skobeloff-100: #C4DFDF;
--skobeloff-200: #ABD1D1;
--skobeloff-300: #93C4C4;
--skobeloff-400: #7AB7B7;
--skobeloff-500: #62A9A9;
--skobeloff-600: #499C9C;
--skobeloff-700: #318F8F;
--skobeloff-800: #188181;
--skobeloff-900: #007474;
--skobeloff-950: #004D4D;
}A shade-by-shade guide to skobeloff
The 50 to 950 scale above follows the same structure as Tailwind's built-in palettes, so each step has a natural job. The lightest steps, 50 (#DCECEC) and 100 (#C4DFDF), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the skobeloff mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#ABD1D1) and 300 (#93C4C4) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where skobeloff is most recognizable, so use it for brand moments, illustrations and primary buttons. White text reaches the 4.5:1 body-text contrast minimum from step 800 upward, so use step 800 or darker when a button label needs to be white. Near-black text stays readable on steps 50 to 700.
The darkest steps, 800 (#188181) through 950 (#004D4D), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to skobeloff. Using step 900 or 950 for text instead of pure black is one of the simplest ways to make an interface feel designed rather than default.
Colors that go with skobeloff
How the skobeloff color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from skobeloff is #740000, which sits closest to maroon among common named colors. Complementary pairs create the strongest contrast of hue, so use the second color sparingly, for a single call to action or highlight, rather than in equal amounts.
Analogous. #00743A and #003A74 sit 30 degrees either side of skobeloff. Analogous palettes feel calm and cohesive because the colors share undertones; they are ideal for illustrations, gradients and backgrounds where you want harmony more than contrast.
Triadic and split complementary. The triadic set (#740074 and #747400) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to indigo. The split complementary set (#74003A and #743A00) keeps much of the complementary contrast but is easier to balance, which makes it a good choice for data visualization and multi-category tags.
Monochromatic. The monochromatic set runs from #0EFFFF to #002929. A single-hue palette is the safest way to build a calm, premium interface: rely on lightness for hierarchy, then add one neutral and one accent if you need emphasis.
Skobeloff compared with similar colors
teal (#008080) is about as light and similarly saturated, and shares almost the same hue. Choose teal if you want a softer, airier version; choose skobeloff if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
cerulean (#007BA7) is lighter (33% vs 23% lightness) and similarly saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward cyan. Choose cerulean if you want a softer, airier version; choose skobeloff if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
jade (#00A86B) is lighter (33% vs 23% lightness) and similarly saturated, and leans back the wheel toward teal-green. Choose jade if you want a softer, airier version; choose skobeloff if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
Skobeloff in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here skobeloff carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
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Using skobeloff in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. Skobeloff carries white labels at 5.6:1, which passes AA for normal text.
- Text. Skobeloff works as text on white backgrounds.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a vivid dark color draw attention, so give them a reason, like a hero section or pricing highlight.
- Dark mode. Steps 900 and 950 make a dark surface tinted with skobeloff. On dark backgrounds the base color often needs a lighter step (300 or 400) to keep enough contrast for icons and borders, as required by WCAG non-text contrast.
- States. Shift one step darker for hover and two steps darker for pressed. Keep focus rings in a contrasting color so keyboard users can always see them.
Contrast and accessibility
AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text. AAA needs 7:1.
Color contrast is measured as a ratio from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white). Skobeloff scores 5.6:1 against white (AA) and 3.75:1 against black (AA large). The WCAG 2.1 contrast guideline asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which is why the shade guide above recommends specific steps for text and labels.
Contrast is only half of accessibility. Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, so never use skobeloff alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What skobeloff means
Teal and cyan sit between blue's trust and green's freshness. They read as clear, clinical, modern and a little optimistic.
Skobeloff is a rarely used deep teal, named after the Russian general Mikhail Skobelev. Its unusual name and tone make it a distinctive alternative to standard teal.
Teal makes a strong primary for health, fintech and productivity tools. Check contrast carefully: mid teals often fail with white text at small sizes.
Where skobeloff works best
- Distinctive fintech and SaaS
- Boutique hotels
- Editorial design
- Premium packaging
How to style skobeloff
Skobeloff pairs with gold, cream, coral and charcoal. It supports white text. Use it as a primary color for brands that want teal's trust with more individuality.
Build a UI with skobeloff
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #007474 as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Skobeloff · History and definition of skobeloff.
- WCAG 2.1: Contrast (Minimum) · The W3C rule behind the 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds used on this page.
- WCAG 2.1: Use of Color · Why color should never be the only way information is shown.
- MDN: CSS color values · Reference for hex, rgb() and hsl() syntax.
- Tailwind CSS: Customizing colors · How to add a custom color scale to your theme.
Similar colors
Questions people ask
What is the hex code for skobeloff?
The hex code for skobeloff used on this page is #007474. In RGB that is rgb(0, 116, 116), and in HSL it is hsl(180, 100%, 23%).
What colors go well with skobeloff?
Skobeloff pairs well with #004545, #E6F2F2, #E9C46A (the Uniform palette above). Its complementary color is #740000, and analogous colors are #00743A and #003A74.
Is skobeloff a warm or cool color?
Skobeloff is a cool color. Its hue sits at 180 degrees on the color wheel with 100% saturation.
Can I use skobeloff for text?
Skobeloff has a contrast ratio of 5.6:1 against white and 3.75:1 against black. Body text needs at least 4.5:1, so it works as text on white backgrounds.
What does skobeloff mean?
Teal and cyan sit between blue's trust and green's freshness. They read as clear, clinical, modern and a little optimistic. Skobeloff in particular is used for distinctive fintech and saas and boutique hotels.
How do I use skobeloff in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#007474] for a one-off, or add the 50-950 scale from this page to theme.extend.colors in tailwind.config.js and use classes like bg-skobeloff-500 and text-skobeloff-900.
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