Home /Compare /Dark Cyan vs Cerulean

Dark Cyan vs Cerulean: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Cyan and Cerulean is brightness and saturation: both are cyan shades, but Cerulean is lighter. Dark Cyan (#008B8B) has an HSL of 180°, 100%, 27%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.

Dark Cyan#008B8B
Cerulean#007BA7
#008B8BBlended: #008399#007BA7

Dark Cyan vs Cerulean: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Cyan Cerulean
BrightnessDark (L=27%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyCyanCyan
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#008B8B#007BA7
RGB0, 139, 1390, 123, 167

Can you use Dark Cyan and Cerulean together?

Cerulean text on Dark Cyan
Dark Cyan text on Cerulean
Contrast Ratio:1.15:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Cyan and Cerulean Apart

  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 16° 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 Dark Cyan vs Cerulean in Design

Use Dark Cyan for:
●Cool, techy, digital branding
●Water, ice, cleaning products
●Fresh modern UI accents
●Summer and tropical themes
●Youthful playful design
Use Cerulean for:
●Cool, techy, digital branding
●Water, ice, cleaning products
●Fresh modern UI accents
●Summer and tropical themes
●Youthful playful design

Dark Cyan and Cerulean Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Dark Cyan#008B8B

Dark Cyan (#008B8B) 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
Shades
Tints
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
Shades
Tints

Dark Cyan 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
Dark Cyan text on white
4.15:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Dark Cyan text on black
5.07:1AA
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on white
4.78:1AA
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on black
4.39:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Dark Cyan text on Cerulean
1.15:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on Dark Cyan
1.15:1Fail

Explore Dark Cyan and Cerulean individually

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

Cerulean color page#007BA7 · shades, tints, pairings

More Dark Cyan and Cerulean Comparisons

TealvsDark CyanTealvsCeruleanAzurevsCeruleanCeruleanvsAzureCeruleanvsCobaltSky BluevsCeruleanCharcoalvsCeruleanGunmetalvsCeruleanBaby BluevsCeruleanNavy BluevsCeruleanCeruleanvsPeriwinkleCeruleanvsSteel Blue

Dark Cyan vs Cerulean FAQ

What is the difference between dark cyan and cerulean?+
The main difference between Dark Cyan and Cerulean is brightness and saturation: both are cyan shades, but Cerulean is lighter. Dark Cyan (#008B8B) has an HSL of 180°, 100%, 27%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.
Is dark cyan darker than cerulean?+
Yes. Dark Cyan is darker, with a lightness of 27% in HSL compared to Cerulean at 33% — a 6-point gap.
Are dark cyan and cerulean the same color?+
No. Dark Cyan is #008B8B and Cerulean is #007BA7. They differ by 16° in hue, 6% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, dark cyan or cerulean?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Dark Cyan at 100% and Cerulean at 100% in HSL.
Is dark cyan warm or cool?+
Dark Cyan (#008B8B) is a cool cyan. Its hue sits at 180° 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 dark cyan and cerulean together?+
Yes. Both dark cyan and cerulean are cyan shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use dark cyan as the dominant color and cerulean as the accent or highlight.
What color family does dark cyan belong to?+
Dark Cyan belongs to the cyan family. Its HSL is 180°, 100%, 27% — a cool tone within the broader cyan group.
What is the hex code for dark cyan?+
The hex code for Dark Cyan is #008B8B. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 139, 139), and in HSL it's hsl(180, 100%, 27%).
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%).