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Charcoal vs Cobalt Blue: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Charcoal and Cobalt Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cobalt Blue is lighter and Cobalt Blue is more saturated. Charcoal (#36454F) has an HSL of 204°, 19%, 26%, whereas Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) sits at 215°, 100%, 34%.

Charcoal#36454F
Cobalt Blue#0047AB
#36454FBlended: #1B467D#0047AB

Charcoal vs Cobalt Blue: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Charcoal Cobalt Blue
BrightnessDark (L=26%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationMuted (S=19%) — subdued, sophisticatedVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#36454F#0047AB
RGB54, 69, 790, 71, 171

Can you use Charcoal and Cobalt Blue together?

Cobalt Blue text on Charcoal
Charcoal text on Cobalt Blue
Contrast Ratio:1.17:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Charcoal and Cobalt Blue Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Cobalt Blue is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Cobalt Blue looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 11° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Charcoal vs Cobalt Blue 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 Cobalt Blue for:
Tech and corporate trust
Finance and banking brands
Links and primary buttons
Medical and professional UI
Calm dependable visuals

Charcoal and Cobalt Blue 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.

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PANTONE
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Cobalt Blue#0047AB

Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) is a dark, vivid blue with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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Charcoal and Cobalt Blue 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
Cobalt Blue text on white
8.44:1AAA
Sample text preview
Cobalt Blue text on black
2.49:1Fail
Sample text preview
Charcoal text on Cobalt Blue
1.17:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cobalt Blue text on Charcoal
1.17:1Fail

Explore Charcoal and Cobalt Blue individually

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

Charcoal color page#36454F · shades, tints, pairingsCobalt Blue color page#0047AB · shades, tints, pairings

More Charcoal and Cobalt Blue Comparisons

Charcoal vs Cobalt Blue FAQ

What is the difference between charcoal and cobalt blue?+
The main difference between Charcoal and Cobalt Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cobalt Blue is lighter and Cobalt Blue is more saturated. Charcoal (#36454F) has an HSL of 204°, 19%, 26%, whereas Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) sits at 215°, 100%, 34%.
Is charcoal darker than cobalt blue?+
Yes. Charcoal is darker, with a lightness of 26% in HSL compared to Cobalt Blue at 34% — a 8-point gap.
Are charcoal and cobalt blue the same color?+
No. Charcoal is #36454F and Cobalt Blue is #0047AB. They differ by 11° in hue, 8% in lightness, and 81% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, charcoal or cobalt blue?+
Cobalt Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Charcoal has 19% saturation and Cobalt Blue has 100% — Cobalt Blue 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 cobalt blue warm or cool?+
Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 215° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use charcoal and cobalt blue together?+
Yes. Both charcoal and cobalt blue are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use charcoal as the dominant color and cobalt blue as the accent or highlight.
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 cobalt blue?+
The hex code for Cobalt Blue is #0047AB. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 71, 171), and in HSL it's hsl(215, 100%, 34%).