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Navy Blue vs Slate Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Navy Blue and Slate Grey is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Slate Grey is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Slate Grey (#708090) sits at 210°, 13%, 50%.

Navy Blue#001F3F
Slate Grey#708090
#001F3FBlended: #385068#708090

Navy Blue vs Slate Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Navy Blue Slate Grey
BrightnessVery dark (L=12%) — deep, heavy, groundedMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=13%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#001F3F#708090
RGB0, 31, 63112, 128, 144

Can you use Navy Blue and Slate Grey together?

Slate Grey text on Navy Blue
Navy Blue text on Slate Grey
Contrast Ratio:4.09:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Navy Blue and Slate Grey Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Slate Grey 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 Slate Grey 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 Slate Grey for:
Tech and corporate trust
Finance and banking brands
Links and primary buttons
Medical and professional UI
Calm dependable visuals

Navy Blue and Slate Grey 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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Slate Grey#708090

Slate Grey (#708090) is a medium, near-neutral blue with a cool undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
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PANTONE
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Navy Blue and Slate Grey 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
Slate Grey text on white
4.05:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on black
5.18:1AA
Sample text preview
Navy Blue text on Slate Grey
4.09:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on Navy Blue
4.09:1AA Large

Explore Navy Blue and Slate Grey individually

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

Navy Blue color page#001F3F · shades, tints, pairingsSlate Grey color page#708090 · shades, tints, pairings

More Navy Blue and Slate Grey Comparisons

Navy Blue vs Slate Grey FAQ

What is the difference between navy blue and slate grey?+
The main difference between Navy Blue and Slate Grey is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Slate Grey is lighter and Navy Blue is more saturated. Navy Blue (#001F3F) has an HSL of 210°, 100%, 12%, whereas Slate Grey (#708090) sits at 210°, 13%, 50%.
Is navy blue darker than slate grey?+
Yes. Navy Blue is darker, with a lightness of 12% in HSL compared to Slate Grey at 50% — a 38-point gap.
Are navy blue and slate grey the same color?+
No. Navy Blue is #001F3F and Slate Grey is #708090. They differ by 0° in hue, 38% in lightness, and 87% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, navy blue or slate grey?+
Navy Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Navy Blue has 100% saturation and Slate Grey has 13% — Navy Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Slate Grey 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 slate grey warm or cool?+
Slate Grey (#708090) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 210° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use navy blue and slate grey together?+
Yes. Both navy blue and slate grey are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use navy blue as the dominant color and slate grey 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 slate grey?+
The hex code for Slate Grey is #708090. In RGB, that's rgb(112, 128, 144), and in HSL it's hsl(210, 13%, 50%).