Cobalt
Also known as: Traditional Royal Blue, Extravehicular Activity, Bohemian Blue, Groundwater
Expect calm and trustworthy associations from Cobalt — a rich blue well suited to 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.
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)
Color intelligence
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
cool
Nearest standard colors
- 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 — 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 — dividers, chart series, 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
Tints, shades, and tones of Cobalt
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
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
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 13.08:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 1.61:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Best text color on a Cobalt background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Cobalt
Cobalt with its complement
Soft neighbors of Cobalt
Cobalt triad
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.
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.
Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer — free, instant, private.