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Navy Blue vs Cornflower: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Navy Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.

Navy Blue#001F3F
Cornflower#6495ED
#001F3FBlended: #325A96#6495ED
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Navy Blue vs Cornflower: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Navy Blue Cornflower
BrightnessVery dark (L=12%) — deep, heavy, groundedLight (L=66%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#001F3F#6495ED
RGB0, 31, 63100, 149, 237

Can you use Navy Blue and Cornflower together?

Cornflower text on Navy Blue
Navy Blue text on Cornflower
Contrast Ratio:5.57:1WCAG AA Pass ✓

How to Tell Navy Blue and Cornflower Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Cornflower 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.

Navy Blue or Cornflower: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickNavy Blue

Navy Blue is more saturated (100% HSL vs 79%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Cornflower can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickNavy Blue

Navy Blue hits a 16.56:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Cornflower only reaches 2.97:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickCornflower

Cornflower is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Navy Blue leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickCornflower

Cornflower is the more muted of the two (79% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Navy Blue's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Navy Blue vs Cornflower 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 Cornflower for:
●Tech and corporate trust
●Finance and banking brands
●Links and primary buttons
●Medical and professional UI
●Calm dependable visuals

Navy Blue and Cornflower 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
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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.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Navy 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
Navy Blue text on white
16.56:1AAA
Sample text preview
Navy Blue text on black
1.27:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on white
2.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on black
7.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Navy Blue text on Cornflower
5.57:1AA
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on Navy Blue
5.57:1AA

Explore Navy Blue and Cornflower individually

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

Navy Blue color page#001F3F · shades, tints, pairingsCornflower color page#6495ED · shades, tints, pairings

More Navy Blue and Cornflower Comparisons

MidnightvsNavy BlueSky BluevsCornflowerNavy BluevsCharcoalCharcoalvsCornflowerNavy BluevsSky BlueNavy BluevsGunmetalPeriwinklevsCornflowerNavy BluevsCeruleanRoyal BluevsCornflowerNavy BluevsBaby BlueSlate GreyvsCornflowerLight BluevsCornflower

Navy Blue vs Cornflower FAQ

What is the difference between navy blue and cornflower?+
The main difference between Navy Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.
Is navy blue darker than cornflower?+
Yes. Navy Blue is darker, with a lightness of 12% in HSL compared to Cornflower at 66% — a 54-point gap.
Are navy blue and cornflower the same color?+
No. Navy Blue is #001F3F and Cornflower is #6495ED. They differ by 9° in hue, 54% in lightness, and 21% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, navy blue or cornflower?+
Navy Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Navy Blue has 100% saturation and Cornflower has 79% — Navy Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Cornflower 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 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 navy blue and cornflower together?+
Yes. Both navy blue and cornflower are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use navy blue as the dominant color and cornflower 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 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%).