Home /Compare /Light Steel Blue vs Cornflower

Light Steel Blue vs Cornflower: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Light Steel Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Light Steel Blue is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Light Steel Blue (#B0C4DE) has an HSL of 214°, 41%, 78%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.

Light Steel Blue#B0C4DE
Cornflower#6495ED
#B0C4DEBlended: #8AADE6#6495ED

Light Steel Blue vs Cornflower: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Light Steel Blue Cornflower
BrightnessLight (L=78%) — airy, soft, approachableLight (L=66%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationModerately saturated (S=41%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#B0C4DE#6495ED
RGB176, 196, 222100, 149, 237

Can you use Light Steel Blue and Cornflower together?

Cornflower text on Light Steel Blue
Light Steel Blue text on Cornflower
Contrast Ratio:1.67:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Light Steel Blue and Cornflower Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Light Steel Blue is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Cornflower 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 Light Steel Blue vs Cornflower in Design

Use Light Steel 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

Light Steel Blue and Cornflower Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Light Steel Blue#B0C4DE

Light Steel Blue (#B0C4DE) is a light, moderately saturated blue with a cool undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and balanced in intensity.

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HSV
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PANTONE
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Cornflower#6495ED

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

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HSV
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PANTONE
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Light Steel 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
Light Steel Blue text on white
1.78:1Fail
Sample text preview
Light Steel Blue text on black
11.8:1AAA
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on white
2.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on black
7.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Light Steel Blue text on Cornflower
1.67:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on Light Steel Blue
1.67:1Fail

Explore Light Steel Blue and Cornflower individually

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

Cornflower color page#6495ED · shades, tints, pairings

More Light Steel Blue and Cornflower Comparisons

Light Steel Blue vs Cornflower FAQ

What is the difference between light steel blue and cornflower?+
The main difference between Light Steel Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Light Steel Blue is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Light Steel Blue (#B0C4DE) has an HSL of 214°, 41%, 78%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.
Is light steel blue darker than cornflower?+
No. Cornflower is the darker of the two at 66% lightness, while Light Steel Blue sits higher at 78%.
Are light steel blue and cornflower the same color?+
No. Light Steel Blue is #B0C4DE and Cornflower is #6495ED. They differ by 5° in hue, 12% in lightness, and 38% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, light steel blue or cornflower?+
Cornflower is more saturated. In HSL, Light Steel Blue has 41% saturation and Cornflower has 79% — Cornflower is the more vivid of the two, while Light Steel Blue reads as more muted.
Is light steel blue warm or cool?+
Light Steel Blue (#B0C4DE) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 214° 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 light steel blue and cornflower together?+
Yes. Both light steel blue and cornflower are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use cornflower as the dominant color and light steel blue as the accent or highlight.
What color family does light steel blue belong to?+
Light Steel Blue belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 214°, 41%, 78% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.
What is the hex code for light steel blue?+
The hex code for Light Steel Blue is #B0C4DE. In RGB, that's rgb(176, 196, 222), and in HSL it's hsl(214, 41%, 78%).
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%).