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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
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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.

Navy Blue or Gunmetal: 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 15%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Gunmetal 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 Gunmetal only reaches 12.74:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickGunmetal

Gunmetal 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
PickGunmetal

Gunmetal is the more muted of the two (15% 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 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
Shades
Tints
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
Tints

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

MidnightvsNavy BlueGunmetalvsBlackNavy BluevsCharcoalGunmetalvsSlateNavy BluevsSky BluePewtervsGunmetalCharcoalvsGunmetalNavy BluevsCeruleanGunmetalvsCharcoalNavy BluevsBaby BlueGunmetalvsCeruleanNavy BluevsCornflower

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%).