Home /Compare /Charcoal vs Cornflower

Charcoal vs Cornflower: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Charcoal and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Charcoal (#36454F) has an HSL of 204°, 19%, 26%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.

Charcoal#36454F
Cornflower#6495ED
#36454FBlended: #4D6D9E#6495ED

Charcoal vs Cornflower: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Charcoal Cornflower
BrightnessDark (L=26%) — rich, serious, substantialLight (L=66%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationMuted (S=19%) — subdued, sophisticatedVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#36454F#6495ED
RGB54, 69, 79100, 149, 237

Can you use Charcoal and Cornflower together?

Cornflower text on Charcoal
Charcoal text on Cornflower
Contrast Ratio:3.33:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Charcoal and Cornflower Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Cornflower is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Cornflower looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 15° 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 Cornflower 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 Cornflower for:
Tech and corporate trust
Finance and banking brands
Links and primary buttons
Medical and professional UI
Calm dependable visuals

Charcoal and Cornflower 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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HSV
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PANTONE
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Cornflower#6495ED

Cornflower (#6495ED) is a light, vivid blue with a cool undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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HSV
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PANTONE
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Charcoal and Cornflower 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
Cornflower text on white
2.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on black
7.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Charcoal text on Cornflower
3.33:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on Charcoal
3.33:1AA Large

Explore Charcoal and Cornflower individually

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

Charcoal color page#36454F · shades, tints, pairingsCornflower color page#6495ED · shades, tints, pairings

More Charcoal and Cornflower Comparisons

Charcoal vs Cornflower FAQ

What is the difference between charcoal and cornflower?+
The main difference between Charcoal and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Charcoal (#36454F) has an HSL of 204°, 19%, 26%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.
Is charcoal darker than cornflower?+
Yes. Charcoal is darker, with a lightness of 26% in HSL compared to Cornflower at 66% — a 40-point gap.
Are charcoal and cornflower the same color?+
No. Charcoal is #36454F and Cornflower is #6495ED. They differ by 15° in hue, 40% in lightness, and 60% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, charcoal or cornflower?+
Cornflower is more saturated. In HSL, Charcoal has 19% saturation and Cornflower has 79% — Cornflower 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 cornflower warm or cool?+
Cornflower (#6495ED) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 219° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use charcoal and cornflower together?+
Yes. Both charcoal and cornflower are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use charcoal as the dominant color and cornflower 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 cornflower?+
The hex code for Cornflower is #6495ED. In RGB, that's rgb(100, 149, 237), and in HSL it's hsl(219, 79%, 66%).