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Gunmetal vs Cerulean: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Gunmetal and Cerulean is hue — Gunmetal is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Gunmetal (#2A3439) has an HSL of 200°, 15%, 19%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.

Gunmetal#2A3439
Cerulean#007BA7
#2A3439Blended: #155870#007BA7

Gunmetal vs Cerulean: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Gunmetal Cerulean
BrightnessVery dark (L=19%) — deep, heavy, groundedDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationMuted (S=15%) — subdued, sophisticatedVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueCyan
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#2A3439#007BA7
RGB42, 52, 570, 123, 167

Can you use Gunmetal and Cerulean together?

Cerulean text on Gunmetal
Gunmetal text on Cerulean
Contrast Ratio:2.66:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Gunmetal and Cerulean Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Cerulean is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Cerulean 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 Gunmetal vs Cerulean in Design

Use Gunmetal 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

Gunmetal and Cerulean Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Gunmetal#2A3439

Gunmetal (#2A3439) is a very dark, muted blue with a cool undertone — it feels deep, heavy, grounded and subdued, sophisticated.

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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.

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RGB
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HSV
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PANTONE
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Gunmetal 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
Gunmetal text on white
12.74:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on black
1.65:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on white
4.78:1AA
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on black
4.39:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on Cerulean
2.66:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on Gunmetal
2.66:1Fail

Explore Gunmetal and Cerulean individually

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

Gunmetal color page#2A3439 · shades, tints, pairingsCerulean color page#007BA7 · shades, tints, pairings

More Gunmetal and Cerulean Comparisons

Gunmetal vs Cerulean FAQ

What is the difference between gunmetal and cerulean?+
The main difference between Gunmetal and Cerulean is hue — Gunmetal is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Gunmetal (#2A3439) has an HSL of 200°, 15%, 19%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.
Is gunmetal darker than cerulean?+
Yes. Gunmetal is darker, with a lightness of 19% in HSL compared to Cerulean at 33% — a 14-point gap.
Are gunmetal and cerulean the same color?+
No. Gunmetal is #2A3439 and Cerulean is #007BA7. They differ by 4° in hue, 14% in lightness, and 85% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, gunmetal or cerulean?+
Cerulean is more saturated. In HSL, Gunmetal has 15% saturation and Cerulean has 100% — Cerulean is the more vivid of the two, while Gunmetal reads as more muted.
Is gunmetal warm or cool?+
Gunmetal (#2A3439) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 200° 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 gunmetal and cerulean together?+
Yes. Gunmetal (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 gunmetal belong to?+
Gunmetal belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 200°, 15%, 19% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.
What is the hex code for gunmetal?+
The hex code for Gunmetal is #2A3439. In RGB, that's rgb(42, 52, 57), and in HSL it's hsl(200, 15%, 19%).
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%).