Cobalt
Also known as: Traditional Royal Blue , Extravehicular Activity , Bohemian Blue , Groundwater
There is a calm and trustworthy quality to Cobalt. The vivid, cool blue at #030AA7 rewards trust-driven interfaces and corporate branding. Set it against a brown accent when you want the combination to pop. On white it reads clearly at 13.08:1 contrast, safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Reference
Cobalt color codes
- HEX
- #030AA7
- RGB
- rgb(3, 10, 167)
- RGBA
- rgba(3, 10, 167, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(237, 96%, 33%)
- HSV
- hsv(237, 98%, 65%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(98%, 94%, 0%, 35%)
- LAB
- lab(18.3 46.9 -79.8)
- OKLCH
- oklch(33.6% 0.223 264.6)
Analysis
Color intelligence
?
Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen. Vivid colors like this typically lose some intensity in CMYK print. Request a physical proof for brand-critical work.
Temperature
Undertone
?
cool
Nearest standard colors
?
Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
?
Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: darkblue #00008B · ΔE 4.2
- RAL 5002: Ultramarine blue #2B2C7C · ΔE 9.6 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Cobalt works
- Web & UI: Use it directly for text on light surfaces; it clears AA contrast without adjustment.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: The safest brand-primary family there is; differentiate with an unexpected accent.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette: packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Cobalt
?
Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
?
Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
?
Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
?
Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Cobalt by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 13.08:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 1.61:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Cobalt background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Cobalt
Cobalt with its complement
Soft neighbors of Cobalt
Cobalt triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Dark Galaxy #0018A8 · ΔE 1.9
- Royal #0C1793 · ΔE 3.1
- Space Dust #002299 · ΔE 4.6
- True Blue #010FCC · ΔE 4.9
- Indiglow #301885 · ΔE 5.5
- Busty Blue #3300CC · ΔE 5.8
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Cobalt is closest to Pineapple .
FAQ
Cobalt FAQs
What color is Cobalt?
Cobalt is a dark blue with the hex code #030AA7. In HSL terms it has a hue of 237°, 96% saturation, and 33% lightness.
What is the hex code for Cobalt?
The hex code for Cobalt is #030AA7. In RGB it's rgb(3, 10, 167), and in CMYK it's cmyk(98%, 94%, 0%, 35%).
What colors go well with Cobalt?
Cobalt pairs naturally with brown tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
Planning around this color? See everything that goes with Cobalt : 10 computed pairings with palettes.
Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer . Free, private, on your device.