Home /Compare /Cobalt Blue vs Cerulean

Cobalt Blue vs Cerulean: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Cobalt Blue and Cerulean is hue — Cobalt Blue is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) has an HSL of 215°, 100%, 34%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.

Cobalt Blue#0047AB
Cerulean#007BA7
#0047ABBlended: #0061A9#007BA7

Cobalt Blue vs Cerulean: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Cobalt Blue Cerulean
BrightnessDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueCyan
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#0047AB#007BA7
RGB0, 71, 1710, 123, 167

Can you use Cobalt Blue and Cerulean together?

Cerulean text on Cobalt Blue
Cobalt Blue text on Cerulean
Contrast Ratio:1.76:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Cobalt Blue and Cerulean Apart

  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 19° 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 Cobalt Blue vs Cerulean in Design

Use Cobalt Blue 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

Cobalt Blue and Cerulean Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

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.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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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
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Cobalt Blue 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
Cobalt Blue text on white
8.44:1AAA
Sample text preview
Cobalt Blue text on black
2.49:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on white
4.78:1AA
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on black
4.39:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Cobalt Blue text on Cerulean
1.76:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on Cobalt Blue
1.76:1Fail

Explore Cobalt Blue and Cerulean individually

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

Cobalt Blue color page#0047AB · shades, tints, pairingsCerulean color page#007BA7 · shades, tints, pairings

More Cobalt Blue and Cerulean Comparisons

Cobalt Blue vs Cerulean FAQ

What is the difference between cobalt blue and cerulean?+
The main difference between Cobalt Blue and Cerulean is hue — Cobalt Blue is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) has an HSL of 215°, 100%, 34%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.
Is cobalt blue darker than cerulean?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Cobalt Blue sits at 34% lightness and Cerulean at 33% — the difference is only 1 percentage points.
Are cobalt blue and cerulean the same color?+
No. Cobalt Blue is #0047AB and Cerulean is #007BA7. They differ by 19° in hue, 1% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, cobalt blue or cerulean?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Cobalt Blue at 100% and Cerulean at 100% in HSL.
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.
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 cobalt blue and cerulean together?+
Yes. Cobalt Blue (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 cobalt blue belong to?+
Cobalt Blue belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 215°, 100%, 34% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.
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%).
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%).