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Navy Blue vs Gunmetal: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Navy Blue and Gunmetal is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Gunmetal is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Gunmetal (#2A3439) sits at 200°, 15%, 19%.

Navy Blue#001F3F
Gunmetal#2A3439
#001F3FBlended: #152A3C#2A3439

Navy Blue vs Gunmetal: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Navy Blue Gunmetal
BrightnessVery dark (L=12%) — deep, heavy, groundedVery dark (L=19%) — deep, heavy, grounded
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=15%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#001F3F#2A3439
RGB0, 31, 6342, 52, 57

Can you use Navy Blue and Gunmetal together?

Gunmetal text on Navy Blue
Navy Blue text on Gunmetal
Contrast Ratio:1.30:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Navy Blue and Gunmetal Apart

  • Check saturation: Navy Blue looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 10° 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 Gunmetal 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 Gunmetal for:
Tech and corporate trust
Finance and banking brands
Links and primary buttons
Medical and professional UI
Calm dependable visuals

Navy Blue and Gunmetal 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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Gunmetal#2A3439

Gunmetal (#2A3439) is a very dark, muted blue with a cool undertone — it feels deep, heavy, grounded and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
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Navy Blue and Gunmetal 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
Gunmetal text on white
12.74:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on black
1.65:1Fail
Sample text preview
Navy Blue text on Gunmetal
1.3:1Fail
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on Navy Blue
1.3:1Fail

Explore Navy Blue and Gunmetal individually

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

Navy Blue color page#001F3F · shades, tints, pairingsGunmetal color page#2A3439 · shades, tints, pairings

More Navy Blue and Gunmetal Comparisons

Navy Blue vs Gunmetal FAQ

What is the difference between navy blue and gunmetal?+
The main difference between Navy Blue and Gunmetal is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Gunmetal is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Gunmetal (#2A3439) sits at 200°, 15%, 19%.
Is navy blue darker than gunmetal?+
Yes. Navy Blue is darker, with a lightness of 12% in HSL compared to Gunmetal at 19% — a 7-point gap.
Are navy blue and gunmetal the same color?+
No. Navy Blue is #001F3F and Gunmetal is #2A3439. They differ by 10° in hue, 7% in lightness, and 85% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, navy blue or gunmetal?+
Navy Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Navy Blue has 100% saturation and Gunmetal has 15% — Navy Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Gunmetal 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 gunmetal warm or cool?+
Gunmetal (#2A3439) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 200° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use navy blue and gunmetal together?+
Yes. Both navy blue and gunmetal are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use navy blue as the dominant color and gunmetal 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 gunmetal?+
The hex code for Gunmetal is #2A3439. In RGB, that's rgb(42, 52, 57), and in HSL it's hsl(200, 15%, 19%).