Navy vs Dark Blue

What is the difference between Navy and Dark Blue?

Examining Navy (#000080) relative to Dark Blue (#00008B) showcases key differences in design application. Both colors share a very similar saturation index, making their color intensity nearly equal. Both shades have a nearly identical lightness profile on screens. They have a close hue coordinate distance of 0°, representing a harmonized adjacent relationship.

Design recommendations for Navy vs Dark Blue

When choosing between Navy and Dark Blue for interface designs, consider their visual weight. Since Navy is darker, it serves as a solid base for structural layouts or heavy typography, while the lighter Dark Blue is ideal for backgrounds or high-visibility accents. Testing their contrast ratio is essential to meet WCAG accessibility guidelines.

Readability & Contrast Testing

Visual test showing black and white text overlay readability on both colors.

Navy Typography

Preview of dark and light text elements rendered over a solid Navy background canvas.

White Text: 16.01:1 Black Text: 1.31:1

Dark Blue Typography

Preview of dark and light text elements rendered over a solid Dark Blue background canvas.

White Text: 15.30:1 Black Text: 1.37:1

Technical Specifications Comparison

Format / Value Navy Dark Blue Delta / Difference
HEX Code #000080 #00008B -
RGB Channels rgb(0, 0, 128) rgb(0, 0, 139) R:0 | G:0 | B:+11
HSL Values hsl(240°, 100%, 25%) hsl(240°, 100%, 27%) H:0° | S:0% | L:+2%
CMYK (Print) cmyk(100%, 100%, 0%, 50%) cmyk(100%, 100%, 0%, 45%) -

Individual Color References

Navy Reference Sheet HEX, RGB, HSL and print codes
Dark Blue Reference Sheet HEX, RGB, HSL and print codes
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