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

The main difference between Slate Grey and Sky Blue is hue — Slate Grey is a cool blue, while Sky Blue is a cool cyan. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Sky Blue (#87CEEB) sits at 197°, 71%, 73%.

Slate Grey#708090
Sky Blue#87CEEB
#708090Blended: #7CA7BE#87CEEB

Slate Grey vs Sky Blue: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Slate Grey Sky Blue
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=73%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationNear-neutral (S=13%) — desaturated and restrainedVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyBlueCyan
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#708090#87CEEB
RGB112, 128, 144135, 206, 235

Can you use Slate Grey and Sky Blue together?

Sky Blue text on Slate Grey
Slate Grey text on Sky Blue
Contrast Ratio:2.33:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Slate Grey and Sky Blue Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Sky Blue is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Sky Blue looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 13° 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 Slate Grey vs Sky 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 Sky Blue for:
Cool, techy, digital branding
Water, ice, cleaning products
Fresh modern UI accents
Summer and tropical themes
Youthful playful design

Slate Grey and Sky 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.

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HSV
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PANTONE
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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.

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HSV
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PANTONE
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Slate Grey and Sky 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
Sky Blue text on white
1.74:1Fail
Sample text preview
Sky Blue text on black
12.06:1AAA
Sample text preview
Slate Grey text on Sky Blue
2.33:1Fail
Sample text preview
Sky Blue text on Slate Grey
2.33:1Fail

Explore Slate Grey and Sky Blue individually

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

Slate Grey color page#708090 · shades, tints, pairingsSky Blue color page#87CEEB · shades, tints, pairings

More Slate Grey and Sky Blue Comparisons

Slate Grey vs Sky Blue FAQ

What is the difference between slate grey and sky blue?+
The main difference between Slate Grey and Sky Blue is hue — Slate Grey is a cool blue, while Sky Blue is a cool cyan. Slate Grey (#708090) has an HSL of 210°, 13%, 50%, whereas Sky Blue (#87CEEB) sits at 197°, 71%, 73%.
Is slate grey darker than sky blue?+
Yes. Slate Grey is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Sky Blue at 73% — a 23-point gap.
Are slate grey and sky blue the same color?+
No. Slate Grey is #708090 and Sky Blue is #87CEEB. They differ by 13° in hue, 23% in lightness, and 58% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, slate grey or sky blue?+
Sky Blue is more saturated. In HSL, Slate Grey has 13% saturation and Sky Blue has 71% — Sky 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 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.
Can you use slate grey and sky blue together?+
Yes. Slate Grey (blue) and Sky Blue (cyan) 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 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 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%).