Home /Compare /Royal Blue vs Cornflower

Royal Blue vs Cornflower: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Royal Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Royal Blue (#4169E1) has an HSL of 225°, 73%, 57%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.

Royal Blue#4169E1
Cornflower#6495ED
#4169E1Blended: #537FE7#6495ED

Royal Blue vs Cornflower: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Royal Blue Cornflower
BrightnessMedium (L=57%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=66%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationVivid (S=73%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#4169E1#6495ED
RGB65, 105, 225100, 149, 237

Can you use Royal Blue and Cornflower together?

Cornflower text on Royal Blue
Royal Blue text on Cornflower
Contrast Ratio:1.63:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Royal Blue and Cornflower Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Cornflower is noticeably lighter.
  • Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Royal Blue vs Cornflower in Design

Use Royal 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

Royal Blue and Cornflower Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Royal Blue#4169E1

Royal Blue (#4169E1) is a medium, vivid blue with a cool undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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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.

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HSV
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PANTONE
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Royal 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
Royal Blue text on white
4.85:1AA
Sample text preview
Royal Blue text on black
4.33:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on white
2.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on black
7.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Royal Blue text on Cornflower
1.63:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on Royal Blue
1.63:1Fail

Explore Royal Blue and Cornflower individually

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

Royal Blue color page#4169E1 · shades, tints, pairingsCornflower color page#6495ED · shades, tints, pairings

More Royal Blue and Cornflower Comparisons

Royal Blue vs Cornflower FAQ

What is the difference between royal blue and cornflower?+
The main difference between Royal Blue and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Royal Blue (#4169E1) has an HSL of 225°, 73%, 57%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.
Is royal blue darker than cornflower?+
Yes. Royal Blue is darker, with a lightness of 57% in HSL compared to Cornflower at 66% — a 9-point gap.
Are royal blue and cornflower the same color?+
No. Royal Blue is #4169E1 and Cornflower is #6495ED. They differ by 6° in hue, 9% in lightness, and 6% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, royal blue or cornflower?+
Cornflower is more saturated. In HSL, Royal Blue has 73% saturation and Cornflower has 79% — Cornflower is the more vivid of the two, while Royal Blue reads as more muted.
Is royal blue warm or cool?+
Royal Blue (#4169E1) is a cool blue. Its hue sits at 225° 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 royal blue and cornflower together?+
Yes. Both royal blue and cornflower are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use royal blue as the dominant color and cornflower as the accent or highlight.
What color family does royal blue belong to?+
Royal Blue belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 225°, 73%, 57% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.
What is the hex code for royal blue?+
The hex code for Royal Blue is #4169E1. In RGB, that's rgb(65, 105, 225), and in HSL it's hsl(225, 73%, 57%).
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%).