Navy vs Cobalt Blue: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Navy and Cobalt Blue is hue — Navy is a cool purple, while Cobalt Blue is a cool blue. Navy (#000080) has an HSL of 240°, 100%, 25%, whereas Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) sits at 215°, 100%, 34%.

Navy#000080

Cobalt Blue#0047AB

#000080Blended: #002496#0047AB

Navy vs Cobalt Blue: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Navy Cobalt Blue

BrightnessDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantial

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

Hue familyPurpleBlue

TemperatureCoolCool

Hex code#000080#0047AB

RGB0, 0, 1280, 71, 171

Can you use Navy and Cobalt Blue together?

Cobalt Blue text on Navy

Navy text on Cobalt Blue

Contrast Ratio:1.90:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Navy and Cobalt Blue Apart

●Look at lightness first: Cobalt Blue is noticeably lighter.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 25° 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 vs Cobalt Blue in Design

Use Navy for:

●Luxury and premium brands

●Creative and imaginative themes

●Beauty and wellness

●Spiritual and mystical design

●Night and evening moods

Use Cobalt Blue for:

●Tech and corporate trust

●Finance and banking brands

●Links and primary buttons

●Medical and professional UI

●Calm dependable visuals

Navy and Cobalt Blue Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Navy#000080

Navy (#000080) is a dark, vivid purple with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

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

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Navy 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 text on white

16.01:1AAA

Sample text preview

Navy text on black

1.31:1Fail

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 text on Cobalt Blue

1.9:1Fail

Sample text preview

Cobalt Blue text on Navy

1.9:1Fail

Explore Navy and Cobalt Blue individually

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

Navy color page#000080 · shades, tints, pairings Cobalt Blue color page#0047AB · shades, tints, pairings

More Navy and Cobalt Blue Comparisons

Navy vs Cobalt Blue FAQ

What is the difference between navy and cobalt blue?+

The main difference between Navy and Cobalt Blue is hue — Navy is a cool purple, while Cobalt Blue is a cool blue. Navy (#000080) has an HSL of 240°, 100%, 25%, whereas Cobalt Blue (#0047AB) sits at 215°, 100%, 34%.

Is navy darker than cobalt blue?+

Yes. Navy is darker, with a lightness of 25% in HSL compared to Cobalt Blue at 34% — a 9-point gap.

Are navy and cobalt blue the same color?+

No. Navy is #000080 and Cobalt Blue is #0047AB. They differ by 25° in hue, 9% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, navy or cobalt blue?+

They have nearly identical saturation — Navy at 100% and Cobalt Blue at 100% in HSL.

Is navy warm or cool?+

Navy (#000080) is a cool purple. Its hue sits at 240° 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 and cobalt blue together?+

Yes. Navy (purple) and Cobalt Blue (blue) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.

What color family does navy belong to?+

Navy belongs to the purple family. Its HSL is 240°, 100%, 25% — a cool tone within the broader purple group.

What is the hex code for navy?+

The hex code for Navy is #000080. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 0, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(240, 100%, 25%).

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%).