Home /Compare /Slate Grey vs Cornflower

Slate Grey vs Cornflower: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Slate Grey and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.

Slate Grey#708090
Cornflower#6495ED
#708090Blended: #6A8BBF#6495ED

Slate Grey vs Cornflower: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Slate Grey Cornflower
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=66%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationNear-neutral (S=13%) — desaturated and restrainedVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#708090#6495ED
RGB112, 128, 144100, 149, 237

Can you use Slate Grey and Cornflower together?

Cornflower text on Slate Grey
Slate Grey text on Cornflower
Contrast Ratio:1.36:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Slate Grey and Cornflower Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Cornflower is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Cornflower 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 Slate Grey vs Cornflower in Design

Use Slate Grey 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

Slate Grey and Cornflower Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Slate Grey#708090

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

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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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Slate Grey 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
Slate Grey text on white
4.05:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on black
5.18:1AA
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on white
2.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on black
7.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on Cornflower
1.36:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cornflower text on Slate Grey
1.36:1Fail

Explore Slate Grey and Cornflower individually

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

Slate Grey color page#708090 · shades, tints, pairingsCornflower color page#6495ED · shades, tints, pairings

More Slate Grey and Cornflower Comparisons

Slate Grey vs Cornflower FAQ

What is the difference between slate grey and cornflower?+
The main difference between Slate Grey and Cornflower is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Cornflower is lighter and Cornflower is more saturated. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Cornflower (#6495ED) sits at 219°, 79%, 66%.
Is slate grey darker than cornflower?+
Yes. Slate Grey is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Cornflower at 66% — a 16-point gap.
Are slate grey and cornflower the same color?+
No. Slate Grey is #708090 and Cornflower is #6495ED. They differ by 9° in hue, 16% in lightness, and 66% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, slate grey or cornflower?+
Cornflower is more saturated. In HSL, Slate Grey has 13% saturation and Cornflower has 79% — Cornflower is the more vivid of the two, while Slate Grey reads as more muted.
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.
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 slate grey and cornflower together?+
Yes. Both slate grey and cornflower are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use slate grey as the dominant color and cornflower as the accent or highlight.
What color family does slate grey belong to?+
Slate Grey belongs to the blue family. Its HSL is 210°, 13%, 50% — a cool tone within the broader blue group.
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%).
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%).