Home /Compare /Cobalt Blue vs Cornflower

Cobalt Blue vs Cornflower: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Cobalt Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cobalt Blue is more saturated. Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) has an HSL of 215°, 100%, 34%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.

Cobalt Blue#0047AB
Cornflower#6495ED
#0047ABBlended: #326ECC#6495ED

Cobalt Blue vs Cornflower: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Cobalt Blue Cornflower
BrightnessDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantialLight (L=66%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#0047AB#6495ED
RGB0, 71, 171100, 149, 237

Can you use Cobalt Blue and Cornflower together?

Cornflower text on Cobalt Blue
Cobalt Blue text on Cornflower
Contrast Ratio:2.84:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Cobalt Blue and Cornflower Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Cornflower is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Cobalt 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 Cobalt Blue vs Cornflower 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 Cornflower for:
Tech and corporate trust
Finance and banking brands
Links and primary buttons
Medical and professional UI
Calm dependable visuals

Cobalt Blue and Cornflower 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
Shades
Tints
Cornflower#6495ED

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

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Cobalt Blue 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
Cobalt Blue text on white
8.44:1AAA
Sample text preview
Cobalt Blue text on black
2.49:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on white
2.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on black
7.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Cobalt Blue text on Cornflower
2.84:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on Cobalt Blue
2.84:1Fail

Explore Cobalt Blue and Cornflower individually

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

Cobalt Blue color page#0047AB · shades, tints, pairingsCornflower color page#6495ED · shades, tints, pairings

More Cobalt Blue and Cornflower Comparisons

Cobalt Blue vs Cornflower FAQ

What is the difference between cobalt blue and cornflower?+
The main difference between Cobalt Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cobalt Blue is more saturated. Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) has an HSL of 215°, 100%, 34%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.
Is cobalt blue darker than cornflower?+
Yes. Cobalt Blue is darker, with a lightness of 34% in HSL compared to Cornflower at 66% — a 32-point gap.
Are cobalt blue and cornflower the same color?+
No. Cobalt Blue is #0047AB and Cornflower is #6495ED. They differ by 4° in hue, 32% in lightness, and 21% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, cobalt blue or cornflower?+
Cobalt Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Cobalt Blue has 100% saturation and Cornflower has 79% — Cobalt Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Cornflower reads as more muted.
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 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 cobalt blue and cornflower together?+
Yes. Both cobalt blue and cornflower are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use cobalt blue as the dominant color and cornflower as the accent or highlight.
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 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%).