Home /Compare /Cornflower Blue vs Royal Blue

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

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.

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%).