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

The main difference between Slate Grey and Royal Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Royal Blue is lighter and Royal Blue is more saturated. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Royal Blue (#4169E1) sits at 225°, 73%, 57%.

Slate Grey#708090
Royal Blue#4169E1
#708090Blended: #5975B9#4169E1
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Slate Grey vs Royal Blue: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Slate Grey Royal Blue
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=57%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationNear-neutral (S=13%) — desaturated and restrainedVivid (S=73%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueBlue
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#708090#4169E1
RGB112, 128, 14465, 105, 225

Can you use Slate Grey and Royal Blue together?

Royal Blue text on Slate Grey
Slate Grey text on Royal Blue
Contrast Ratio:1.20:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Slate Grey and Royal Blue Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Royal Blue looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 15° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Slate Grey or Royal Blue: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickRoyal Blue

Royal Blue is more saturated (73% HSL vs 13%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Slate Grey can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickRoyal Blue

Royal Blue hits a 4.85:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Slate Grey only reaches 4.05:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickRoyal Blue

Royal Blue is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Slate Grey leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickSlate Grey

Slate Grey is the more muted of the two (13% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Royal Blue's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Slate Grey vs Royal Blue 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 Royal Blue for:
●Tech and corporate trust
●Finance and banking brands
●Links and primary buttons
●Medical and professional UI
●Calm dependable visuals

Slate Grey and Royal Blue 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.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Royal Blue#4169E1

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

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Slate Grey and Royal 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
Slate Grey text on white
4.05:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on black
5.18:1AA
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
Slate Grey text on Royal Blue
1.2:1Fail
Sample text preview
Royal Blue text on Slate Grey
1.2:1Fail

Explore Slate Grey and Royal Blue individually

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

Slate Grey color page#708090 · shades, tints, pairingsRoyal Blue color page#4169E1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Slate Grey and Royal Blue Comparisons

Slate GreyvsPewterNavyvsRoyal BlueCharcoalvsSlate GreyBluevsRoyal BlueSlate GreyvsGunmetalCobaltvsRoyal BlueSlate GreyvsSky BlueRoyal BluevsIndigoBaby BluevsSlate GreySapphirevsRoyal BlueNavy BluevsSlate GreySky BluevsRoyal Blue

Slate Grey vs Royal Blue FAQ

What is the difference between slate grey and royal blue?+
The main difference between Slate Grey and Royal Blue is brightness and saturation: both are blue shades, but Royal Blue is lighter and Royal Blue is more saturated. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Royal Blue (#4169E1) sits at 225°, 73%, 57%.
Is slate grey darker than royal blue?+
Yes. Slate Grey is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Royal Blue at 57% — a 7-point gap.
Are slate grey and royal blue the same color?+
No. Slate Grey is #708090 and Royal Blue is #4169E1. They differ by 15° in hue, 7% in lightness, and 60% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, slate grey or royal blue?+
Royal Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Slate Grey has 13% saturation and Royal Blue has 73% — Royal Blue 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 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.
Can you use slate grey and royal blue together?+
Yes. Both slate grey and royal blue are blue shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use slate grey as the dominant color and royal blue 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 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%).