Navy Blue vs Cobalt Blue: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cobalt Blue is lighter. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) sits at 215°, 100%, 34%.

Navy Blue#001F3F

Cobalt Blue#0047AB

#001F3FBlended: #003375#0047AB

Navy Blue vs Cobalt Blue: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Navy Blue Cobalt Blue

BrightnessVery dark (L=12%) — deep, heavy, groundedDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantial

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

Hue familyBlueBlue

TemperatureCoolCool

Hex code#001F3F#0047AB

RGB0, 31, 630, 71, 171

Can you use Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue together?

Cobalt Blue text on Navy Blue

Navy Blue text on Cobalt Blue

Contrast Ratio:1.96:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue Apart

●Look at lightness first: Cobalt Blue is noticeably lighter.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Navy Blue vs Cobalt Blue 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 Cobalt Blue for:

●Tech and corporate trust

●Finance and banking brands

●Links and primary buttons

●Medical and professional UI

●Calm dependable visuals

Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue 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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RGB

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HSV

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PANTONE

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Cobalt Blue#0047AB

Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) is a dark, vivid blue with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

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PANTONE

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Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue 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

Cobalt Blue text on white

8.44:1AAA

Sample text preview

Cobalt Blue text on black

2.49:1Fail

Sample text preview

Navy Blue text on Cobalt Blue

1.96:1Fail

Sample text preview

Cobalt Blue text on Navy Blue

1.96:1Fail

Explore Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue individually

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

Navy Blue color page#001F3F · shades, tints, pairings Cobalt Blue color page#0047AB · shades, tints, pairings

More Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue Comparisons

Navy Blue vs Cobalt Blue FAQ

What is the difference between navy blue and cobalt blue?+

The main difference between Navy Blue and Cobalt Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cobalt Blue is lighter. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) sits at 215°, 100%, 34%.

Is navy blue darker than cobalt blue?+

Yes. Navy Blue is darker, with a lightness of 12% in HSL compared to Cobalt Blue at 34% — a 22-point gap.

Are navy blue and cobalt blue the same color?+

No. Navy Blue is #001F3F and Cobalt Blue is #0047AB. They differ by 5° in hue, 22% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, navy blue or cobalt blue?+

They have nearly identical saturation — Navy Blue at 100% and Cobalt Blue 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 cobalt blue warm or cool?+

Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 215° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.

Can you use navy blue and cobalt blue together?+

Yes. Both navy blue and cobalt blue are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use navy blue as the dominant color and cobalt blue 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 cobalt blue?+

The hex code for Cobalt Blue is #0047AB. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 71, 171), and in HSL it's hsl(215, 100%, 34%).