Cornflower Blue vs Royal Blue: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower Blue is lighter and Cornflower Blue is more saturated. Cornflower Blue (#6495ED) has an HSL of 219°, 79%, 66%, whereas Royal Blue (#4169E1) sits at 225°, 73%, 57%.

Cornflower Blue#6495ED

Royal Blue#4169E1

#6495EDBlended: #537FE7#4169E1

ShareSave to Pinterest Tweet

Cornflower Blue vs Royal Blue: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Cornflower Blue Royal Blue

BrightnessLight (L=66%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=57%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=73%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyBlueBlue

TemperatureCoolCool

Hex code#6495ED#4169E1

RGB100, 149, 23765, 105, 225

Can you use Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue together?

Royal Blue text on Cornflower Blue

Cornflower Blue text on Royal Blue

Contrast Ratio:1.63:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue Apart

●Look at lightness first: Cornflower Blue is noticeably lighter.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Cornflower Blue or Royal Blue: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos

PickCornflower Blue

Cornflower Blue is more saturated (79% HSL vs 73%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Royal Blue can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds

PickRoyal Blue

Royal Blue hits a 4.85:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Cornflower Blue only reaches 2.97:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel

PickCornflower Blue

Cornflower Blue is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Royal Blue leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls

PickRoyal Blue

Royal Blue is the more muted of the two (73% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Cornflower Blue's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Cornflower Blue vs Royal Blue in Design

Use Cornflower Blue for:

●Tech and corporate trust

●Finance and banking brands

●Links and primary buttons

●Medical and professional UI

●Calm dependable visuals

Use Royal Blue for:

●Tech and corporate trust

●Finance and banking brands

●Links and primary buttons

●Medical and professional UI

●Calm dependable visuals

Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Cornflower Blue#6495ED

Cornflower Blue (#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

Royal Blue#4169E1

Royal Blue (#4169E1) is a medium, vivid blue with a cool undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Cornflower Blue and Royal 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

Cornflower Blue text on white

2.97:1Fail

Sample text preview

Cornflower Blue text on black

7.06:1AAA

Sample text preview

Royal Blue text on white

4.85:1AA

Sample text preview

Royal Blue text on black

4.33:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Cornflower Blue text on Royal Blue

1.63:1Fail

Sample text preview

Royal Blue text on Cornflower Blue

1.63:1Fail

Explore Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue individually

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

Royal Blue color page#4169E1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue Comparisons

Cornflower Blue vs Royal Blue FAQ

What is the difference between cornflower blue and royal blue?+

The main difference between Cornflower Blue and Royal Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower Blue is lighter and Cornflower Blue is more saturated. Cornflower Blue (#6495ED) has an HSL of 219°, 79%, 66%, whereas Royal Blue (#4169E1) sits at 225°, 73%, 57%.

Is cornflower blue darker than royal blue?+

No. Royal Blue is the darker of the two at 57% lightness, while Cornflower Blue sits higher at 66%.

Are cornflower blue and royal blue the same color?+

No. Cornflower Blue is #6495ED and Royal Blue is #4169E1. They differ by 6° in hue, 9% in lightness, and 6% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, cornflower blue or royal blue?+

Cornflower Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Cornflower Blue has 79% saturation and Royal Blue has 73% — Cornflower Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Royal Blue reads as more muted.

Is cornflower blue warm or cool?+

Cornflower Blue (#6495ED) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 219° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.

Is royal blue warm or cool?+

Royal Blue (#4169E1) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 225° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.

Can you use cornflower blue and royal blue together?+

Yes. Both cornflower blue and royal blue are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use royal blue as the dominant color and cornflower blue as the accent or highlight.

What color family does cornflower blue belong to?+

Cornflower Blue belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 219°, 79%, 66% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.

What is the hex code for cornflower blue?+

The hex code for Cornflower Blue is #6495ED. In RGB, that's rgb(100, 149, 237), and in HSL it's hsl(219, 79%, 66%).

What is the hex code for royal blue?+

The hex code for Royal Blue is #4169E1. In RGB, that's rgb(65, 105, 225), and in HSL it's hsl(225, 73%, 57%).