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Navy Blue vs Charcoal: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Navy Blue and Charcoal is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Charcoal is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Charcoal (#36454F) sits at 204°, 19%, 26%.

Navy Blue#001F3F
Charcoal#36454F
#001F3FBlended: #1B3247#36454F

Navy Blue vs Charcoal: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Navy Blue Charcoal
BrightnessVery dark (L=12%) — deep, heavy, groundedDark (L=26%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=19%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#001F3F#36454F
RGB0, 31, 6354, 69, 79

Can you use Navy Blue and Charcoal together?

Charcoal text on Navy Blue
Navy Blue text on Charcoal
Contrast Ratio:1.67:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Navy Blue and Charcoal Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Charcoal is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Navy Blue 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 Navy Blue vs Charcoal 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 Charcoal for:
●Tech and corporate trust
●Finance and banking brands
●Links and primary buttons
●Medical and professional UI
●Calm dependable visuals

Navy Blue and Charcoal 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.

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HSV
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PANTONE
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Charcoal#36454F

Charcoal (#36454F) is a dark, muted blue with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.

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RGB
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HSV
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Navy Blue and Charcoal 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
Charcoal text on white
9.9:1AAA
Sample text preview
Charcoal text on black
2.12:1Fail
Sample text preview
Navy Blue text on Charcoal
1.67:1Fail
Sample text preview
Charcoal text on Navy Blue
1.67:1Fail

Explore Navy Blue and Charcoal individually

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

Navy Blue color page#001F3F · shades, tints, pairingsCharcoal color page#36454F · shades, tints, pairings

More Navy Blue and Charcoal Comparisons

MidnightvsNavy BlueGreyvsCharcoalGrayvsCharcoalNavy BluevsSky BlueCharcoalvsNavyNavy BluevsGunmetalCharcoalvsTealNavy BluevsCeruleanNavyvsCharcoalNavy BluevsBaby BlueCharcoalvsGoldNavy BluevsCornflower

Navy Blue vs Charcoal FAQ

What is the difference between navy blue and charcoal?+
The main difference between Navy Blue and Charcoal is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Charcoal is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Charcoal (#36454F) sits at 204°, 19%, 26%.
Is navy blue darker than charcoal?+
Yes. Navy Blue is darker, with a lightness of 12% in HSL compared to Charcoal at 26% — a 14-point gap.
Are navy blue and charcoal the same color?+
No. Navy Blue is #001F3F and Charcoal is #36454F. They differ by 6° in hue, 14% in lightness, and 81% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, navy blue or charcoal?+
Navy Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Navy Blue has 100% saturation and Charcoal has 19% — Navy Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Charcoal reads as more muted.
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 charcoal warm or cool?+
Charcoal (#36454F) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 204° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use navy blue and charcoal together?+
Yes. Both navy blue and charcoal are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use navy blue as the dominant color and charcoal as the accent or highlight.
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 charcoal?+
The hex code for Charcoal is #36454F. In RGB, that's rgb(54, 69, 79), and in HSL it's hsl(204, 19%, 26%).