Home /Compare /Baby Blue vs Gunmetal

Baby Blue vs Gunmetal: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Baby Blue and Gunmetal is hue — Baby Blue is a cool cyan, while Gunmetal is a cool blue. Baby Blue (#89CFF0) has an HSL of 199°, 77%, 74%, whereas Gunmetal (#2A3439) sits at 200°, 15%, 19%.

Baby Blue#89CFF0
Gunmetal#2A3439
#89CFF0Blended: #5A8295#2A3439

Baby Blue vs Gunmetal: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Baby Blue Gunmetal
BrightnessLight (L=74%) — airy, soft, approachableVery dark (L=19%) — deep, heavy, grounded
SaturationVivid (S=77%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=15%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyCyanBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#89CFF0#2A3439
RGB137, 207, 24042, 52, 57

Can you use Baby Blue and Gunmetal together?

Gunmetal text on Baby Blue
Baby Blue text on Gunmetal
Contrast Ratio:7.43:1WCAG AA Pass ✓

How to Tell Baby Blue and Gunmetal Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Baby Blue is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Baby Blue looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Baby Blue vs Gunmetal in Design

Use Baby Blue for:
Cool, techy, digital branding
Water, ice, cleaning products
Fresh modern UI accents
Summer and tropical themes
Youthful playful design
Use Gunmetal for:
Tech and corporate trust
Finance and banking brands
Links and primary buttons
Medical and professional UI
Calm dependable visuals

Baby Blue and Gunmetal Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Baby Blue#89CFF0

Baby Blue (#89CFF0) is a light, vivid cyan with a cool undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Gunmetal#2A3439

Gunmetal (#2A3439) is a very dark, muted blue with a cool undertone — it feels deep, heavy, grounded and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Baby Blue and Gunmetal WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview
Baby Blue text on white
1.71:1Fail
Sample text preview
Baby Blue text on black
12.25:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on white
12.74:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on black
1.65:1Fail
Sample text preview
Baby Blue text on Gunmetal
7.43:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on Baby Blue
7.43:1AAA

Explore Baby Blue and Gunmetal individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Baby Blue color page#89CFF0 · shades, tints, pairingsGunmetal color page#2A3439 · shades, tints, pairings

More Baby Blue and Gunmetal Comparisons

Baby Blue vs Gunmetal FAQ

What is the difference between baby blue and gunmetal?+
The main difference between Baby Blue and Gunmetal is hue — Baby Blue is a cool cyan, while Gunmetal is a cool blue. Baby Blue (#89CFF0) has an HSL of 199°, 77%, 74%, whereas Gunmetal (#2A3439) sits at 200°, 15%, 19%.
Is baby blue darker than gunmetal?+
No. Gunmetal is the darker of the two at 19% lightness, while Baby Blue sits higher at 74%.
Are baby blue and gunmetal the same color?+
No. Baby Blue is #89CFF0 and Gunmetal is #2A3439. They differ by 1° in hue, 55% in lightness, and 62% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, baby blue or gunmetal?+
Baby Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Baby Blue has 77% saturation and Gunmetal has 15% — Baby Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Gunmetal reads as more muted.
Is baby blue warm or cool?+
Baby Blue (#89CFF0) is a cool cyan. Its hue sits at 199° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Is gunmetal warm or cool?+
Gunmetal (#2A3439) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 200° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use baby blue and gunmetal together?+
Yes. Baby Blue (cyan) and Gunmetal (blue) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does baby blue belong to?+
Baby Blue belongs to the cyan family. Its HSL is 199°, 77%, 74% — a cool tone within the broader cyan group.
What is the hex code for baby blue?+
The hex code for Baby Blue is #89CFF0. In RGB, that's rgb(137, 207, 240), and in HSL it's hsl(199, 77%, 74%).
What is the hex code for gunmetal?+
The hex code for Gunmetal is #2A3439. In RGB, that's rgb(42, 52, 57), and in HSL it's hsl(200, 15%, 19%).