Navy vs Royal Blue
Can you tell them apart?
#000080
#4169E1
Perceptual difference (ΔE): 40.8 — clearly different.
Navy and royal blue are both deep blues, but they differ sharply in brightness. Navy is an extremely dark blue — almost black — named after the dark uniforms of the British Royal Navy, and it's the default 'serious' blue for suits and logos. Royal blue is a vivid, brighter blue with much more energy, traditionally a richer mid-blue that stands out rather than recedes.
How to tell them apart
Brightness decides it: navy is so dark it can be mistaken for black in low light, while royal blue is unmistakably blue and far more saturated. If you have to ask whether it's blue or black, it's navy.
Color values
| HEX | #000080 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 0, 0, 128 |
| HSL | 240°, 100%, 25% |
| CMYK | 100, 100, 0, 50 |
| HEX | #4169E1 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 65, 105, 225 |
| HSL | 225°, 73%, 57% |
| CMYK | 71, 53, 0, 12 |
FAQ
- Is navy darker than royal blue?
- Yes, much darker. Navy is near-black, while royal blue is a bright, vivid mid-blue.
- Can navy look black?
- Yes. In dim light navy is easily mistaken for black because of its very low lightness.