Navy Blue vs Cerulean: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Navy Blue and Cerulean is hue — Navy Blue is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.

Navy Blue#001F3F

Cerulean#007BA7

#001F3FBlended: #004D73#007BA7

Navy Blue vs Cerulean: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Navy Blue Cerulean

BrightnessVery dark (L=12%) — deep, heavy, groundedDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial

SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyBlueCyan

TemperatureCoolCool

Hex code#001F3F#007BA7

RGB0, 31, 630, 123, 167

Can you use Navy Blue and Cerulean together?

Cerulean text on Navy Blue

Navy Blue text on Cerulean

Contrast Ratio:3.46:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Navy Blue and Cerulean Apart

●Look at lightness first: Cerulean is noticeably lighter.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 14° 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 Navy Blue vs Cerulean in Design

Use Navy Blue 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

Navy Blue and Cerulean Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Navy Blue#001F3F

Navy Blue (#001F3F) is a very dark, vivid blue with a cool undertone — it feels deep, heavy, grounded and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

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.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

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Navy Blue 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

Navy Blue text on white

16.56:1AAA

Sample text preview

Navy Blue text on black

1.27:1Fail

Sample text preview

Cerulean text on white

4.78:1AA

Sample text preview

Cerulean text on black

4.39:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Navy Blue text on Cerulean

3.46:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Cerulean text on Navy Blue

3.46:1AA Large

Explore Navy Blue and Cerulean individually

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

Navy Blue color page#001F3F · shades, tints, pairings Cerulean color page#007BA7 · shades, tints, pairings

More Navy Blue and Cerulean Comparisons

Navy Blue vs Cerulean FAQ

What is the difference between navy blue and cerulean?+

The main difference between Navy Blue and Cerulean is hue — Navy Blue is a cool blue, while Cerulean is a cool cyan. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.

Is navy blue darker than cerulean?+

Yes. Navy Blue is darker, with a lightness of 12% in HSL compared to Cerulean at 33% — a 21-point gap.

Are navy blue and cerulean the same color?+

No. Navy Blue is #001F3F and Cerulean is #007BA7. They differ by 14° in hue, 21% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, navy blue or cerulean?+

They have nearly identical saturation — Navy Blue at 100% and Cerulean at 100% in HSL.

Is navy blue warm or cool?+

Navy Blue (#001F3F) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 210° 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 navy blue and cerulean together?+

Yes. Navy Blue (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 navy blue belong to?+

Navy Blue belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 210°, 100%, 12% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.

What is the hex code for navy blue?+

The hex code for Navy Blue is #001F3F. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 31, 63), and in HSL it's hsl(210, 100%, 12%).

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%).