Home /Compare /Charcoal vs Cerulean

Charcoal vs Cerulean: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Charcoal and Cerulean is hue — Charcoal is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Charcoal (#36454F) has an HSL of 204°, 19%, 26%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.

Charcoal#36454F
Cerulean#007BA7
#36454FBlended: #1B607B#007BA7

Charcoal vs Cerulean: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Charcoal Cerulean
BrightnessDark (L=26%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationMuted (S=19%) — subdued, sophisticatedVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueCyan
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#36454F#007BA7
RGB54, 69, 790, 123, 167

Can you use Charcoal and Cerulean together?

Cerulean text on Charcoal
Charcoal text on Cerulean
Contrast Ratio:2.07:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Charcoal and Cerulean Apart

  • Check saturation: Cerulean 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 Charcoal vs Cerulean in Design

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

Charcoal and Cerulean Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Charcoal#36454F

Charcoal (#36454F) is a dark, muted blue with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Cerulean#007BA7

Cerulean (#007BA7) is a dark, vivid cyan with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Charcoal and Cerulean 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
Charcoal text on white
9.9:1AAA
Sample text preview
Charcoal text on black
2.12:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on white
4.78:1AA
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on black
4.39:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Charcoal text on Cerulean
2.07:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on Charcoal
2.07:1Fail

Explore Charcoal and Cerulean individually

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

Charcoal color page#36454F · shades, tints, pairingsCerulean color page#007BA7 · shades, tints, pairings

More Charcoal and Cerulean Comparisons

Charcoal vs Cerulean FAQ

What is the difference between charcoal and cerulean?+
The main difference between Charcoal and Cerulean is hue — Charcoal is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Charcoal (#36454F) has an HSL of 204°, 19%, 26%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.
Is charcoal darker than cerulean?+
Yes. Charcoal is darker, with a lightness of 26% in HSL compared to Cerulean at 33% — a 7-point gap.
Are charcoal and cerulean the same color?+
No. Charcoal is #36454F and Cerulean is #007BA7. They differ by 8° in hue, 7% in lightness, and 81% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, charcoal or cerulean?+
Cerulean is more saturated. In HSL, Charcoal has 19% saturation and Cerulean has 100% — Cerulean is the more vivid of the two, while Charcoal reads as more muted.
Is charcoal warm or cool?+
Charcoal (#36454F) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 204° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Is cerulean warm or cool?+
Cerulean (#007BA7) is a cool cyan. Its hue sits at 196° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use charcoal and cerulean together?+
Yes. Charcoal (blue) and Cerulean (cyan) 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 charcoal belong to?+
Charcoal belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 204°, 19%, 26% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.
What is the hex code for charcoal?+
The hex code for Charcoal is #36454F. In RGB, that's rgb(54, 69, 79), and in HSL it's hsl(204, 19%, 26%).
What is the hex code for cerulean?+
The hex code for Cerulean is #007BA7. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 123, 167), and in HSL it's hsl(196, 100%, 33%).