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Sky Blue vs Gunmetal: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Sky Blue and Gunmetal is hue — Sky Blue is a cool cyan, while Gunmetal is a cool blue. Sky Blue (#87CEEB) has an HSL of 197°, 71%, 73%, whereas Gunmetal (#2A3439) sits at 200°, 15%, 19%.

Sky Blue#87CEEB
Gunmetal#2A3439
#87CEEBBlended: #598192#2A3439
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Sky Blue vs Gunmetal: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Sky Blue Gunmetal
BrightnessLight (L=73%) — airy, soft, approachableVery dark (L=19%) — deep, heavy, grounded
SaturationVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=15%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyCyanBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#87CEEB#2A3439
RGB135, 206, 23542, 52, 57

Can you use Sky Blue and Gunmetal together?

Gunmetal text on Sky Blue
Sky Blue text on Gunmetal
Contrast Ratio:7.31:1WCAG AA Pass ✓

How to Tell Sky Blue and Gunmetal Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Sky Blue is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Sky Blue looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Sky 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
PickSky Blue

Sky Blue is more saturated (71% 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
PickGunmetal

Gunmetal hits a 12.74:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Sky Blue only reaches 1.74:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickSky Blue

Sky Blue is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Gunmetal 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 Sky Blue's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Sky Blue vs Gunmetal in Design

Use Sky Blue for:
●Cool, techy, digital branding
●Water, ice, cleaning products
●Fresh modern UI accents
●Summer and tropical themes
●Youthful playful design
Use Gunmetal for:
●Tech and corporate trust
●Finance and banking brands
●Links and primary buttons
●Medical and professional UI
●Calm dependable visuals

Sky Blue and Gunmetal Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Sky Blue#87CEEB

Sky Blue (#87CEEB) is a light, vivid cyan with a cool undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable 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
Tints

Sky 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
Sky Blue text on white
1.74:1Fail
Sample text preview
Sky Blue text on black
12.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on white
12.74:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on black
1.65:1Fail
Sample text preview
Sky Blue text on Gunmetal
7.31:1AAA
Sample text preview
Gunmetal text on Sky Blue
7.31:1AAA

Explore Sky Blue and Gunmetal individually

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

Sky Blue color page#87CEEB · shades, tints, pairingsGunmetal color page#2A3439 · shades, tints, pairings

More Sky Blue and Gunmetal Comparisons

Sky BluevsGoldGunmetalvsBlackAzurevsSky BlueGunmetalvsSlateSky BluevsAzurePewtervsGunmetalSky BluevsCoralCharcoalvsGunmetalSky BluevsWhiteGunmetalvsCharcoalSky BluevsCeruleanGunmetalvsCerulean

Sky Blue vs Gunmetal FAQ

What is the difference between sky blue and gunmetal?+
The main difference between Sky Blue and Gunmetal is hue — Sky Blue is a cool cyan, while Gunmetal is a cool blue. Sky Blue (#87CEEB) has an HSL of 197°, 71%, 73%, whereas Gunmetal (#2A3439) sits at 200°, 15%, 19%.
Is sky blue darker than gunmetal?+
No. Gunmetal is the darker of the two at 19% lightness, while Sky Blue sits higher at 73%.
Are sky blue and gunmetal the same color?+
No. Sky Blue is #87CEEB and Gunmetal is #2A3439. They differ by 3° in hue, 54% in lightness, and 56% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, sky blue or gunmetal?+
Sky Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Sky Blue has 71% saturation and Gunmetal has 15% — Sky Blue is the more vivid of the two, while Gunmetal reads as more muted.
Is sky blue warm or cool?+
Sky Blue (#87CEEB) is a cool cyan. Its hue sits at 197° 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 sky blue and gunmetal together?+
Yes. Sky Blue (cyan) and Gunmetal (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 sky blue belong to?+
Sky Blue belongs to the cyan family. Its HSL is 197°, 71%, 73% — a cool tone within the broader cyan group.
What is the hex code for sky blue?+
The hex code for Sky Blue is #87CEEB. In RGB, that's rgb(135, 206, 235), and in HSL it's hsl(197, 71%, 73%).
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%).