Royal blue is a rich, deep shade of blue that has long been associated with royalty, prestige, and elegance. When people think of royal blue, they often imagine a dark, saturated blue. But there are actually many different shades and tones of blue that can be considered similar to royal blue.
Defining Royal Blue
In order to find colors similar to royal blue, it’s helpful to first define what exactly royal blue is. Royal blue is a vivid shade of azure blue that was originally invented by millers in the 18th and 19th centuries using a combination of cobalt blue and French ultramarine. It was closely associated with British nobility and royalty, hence the name royal blue.
On the RGB color wheel, royal blue has the following values: R = 65, G = 105, B = 225. In the HSL color space, royal blue can be defined with: H = 225°, S = 73%, L = 49%. On the Pantone Matching System (PMS), the closest standard color to royal blue is PMS 281.
So in summary, true royal blue is a very deep, rich midnight blue with some subtle warm undertones. It sits between a pure blue and a pure violet on the color wheel. Keep these technical definitions in mind as we explore similar shades.
Navy Blue
One of the most commonly cited colors similar to royal blue is navy blue. Navy blue sits a shade darker than royal blue on the color wheel. It has a deeper, cooler tone with more blue undertones compared to the subtle warmth in royal blue.
Navy blue gets its name from its use in British Royal Navy uniforms. It remains a staple color for uniforms to this day. The RGB values for navy blue are: R = 0, G = 31, B = 63. So it is significantly darker than royal blue while maintaining a similar muted saturation.
When viewed side by side, navy blue and royal blue are clearly distinct shades. But they coordinate extremely well together. Often you will see them paired in designs from uniforms to home decor. If you want a color slightly darker with more blue undertones than royal blue, navy blue is an excellent option.
Sapphire Blue
Moving up the brightness scale, another blue that is similar to royal blue is sapphire blue. As the name suggests, this vibrant shade resembles the gemstone sapphire. Compared to royal blue, sapphire blue is brighter and more saturated.
On the RGB color palette, sapphire blue is defined as: R = 15, G = 82, B = 186. The brighter tone comes from higher values across all three color channels. Sapphire blue is a great choice if you want to maintain the regal feel of royal blue but need something brighter and bolder.
It looks stunning when paired with metals like silver, white gold, and platinum. You’ll often see sapphire blue used for jewelry, couture fashion, and formal events. Overall, it’s slightly more vivid than royal blue but keeps a similar cool undertone.
Majorelle Blue
Shifting the blue tone into a brighter, bolder direction, Majorelle blue is another comparable shade. Named after French artist Jacques Majorelle, this electric cobalt blue stands out for its highly saturated, energetic hue.
The RGB values for Majorelle blue are: R = 96, G = 189, B = 212. It maintains the same blue undertone as royal blue but amplifies the vibrance significantly. Placed side-by-side, Majorelle blue appears much bolder while still feeling sophisticated.
Use Majorelle blue when you want to infuse a sense of drama into a design. It looks particularly striking against neutral tones like white, black, and gray. You’ll often see it adorning contemporary architecture, modern graphic prints, and abstract art pieces. It offers a modern twist on traditional royal blue.
Dodger Blue
Dodger blue is a bright, vivid blue that leans slightly more toward the green-blue cyan side of the color wheel than royal blue. It was named after the hue used in the Dodgers’ uniforms starting in the 1950s.
With RGB values of R = 30, G = 144, B = 255, dodger blue is noticeably brighter and cooler in tone compared to the deeper royal blue. But it still has that saturated electric blue appearance that can feel almost regal in nature.
Use dodger blue when you want a punchy blue that captures attention. It feels youthful and energetic. Often you’ll see it used for sports teams, logos, activewear, and children’s products. While not an exact match for royal blue, it has a similar bold spirit.
Han Blue
Han blue is an ancient Chinese pigment dye used in artwork and porcelain production as far back as the 8th century Tang dynasty. It is a rich, dark, moderately saturated blue that earned the name “Chinese royal blue” thanks to its historical importance.
Compared to standard royal blue, Han blue is slightly deeper with subtle green undertones. The pigment consists of a mix of cobalt, barium, and copper. When used in a design context, Han blue has a mystical, antique quality not found in most blue hues.
If you want to give a nod to ancient Chinese culture in your use of blue, Han blue is an excellent option. Its mystical qualities pair perfectly with jade, gold, amber, and red tones. Use it when you want to create an antique royal effect.
Egyptian Blue
Dating back to Ancient Egypt, Egyptian blue is considered the first ever synthetically produced pigment. It contains copper and quartz and was widely used for art, jewelry, and pottery until the Roman era.
True Egyptian blue has a distinct green tint that differentiates it from the modern understanding of royal blue. But it still has a regal, antiquated quality. The vivid saturation evokes the blue used in Egyptian lapis lazuli jewelry and statuary.
Today, Egyptian blue offers an exotic, ancient Egyptian mood. Use it when you want to create an antiquated royal feeling or reference North African design motifs. Pair it with golden yellow, jade green and earth tones.
Air Force Blue
Within the military vocabulary of colors, Air Force blue stands as the official blue shade used by the U.S. Air Force. It is a deep azure blue that derives directly from the RAF Air Force blue used by the British Royal Air Force.
Compared to royal blue, Air Force blue is very slightly darker and deeper in tone. It has RGB values of R = 93, G = 138, B = 168. The two hues are closely aligned but Air Force blue has a cooler, more muted quality.
Use Air Force blue when you want to evoke military imagery and themes in a design. It pairs well with silver, white, gray and black for a clean modern look. While not exactly royal blue, it has a similar commanding presence.
Brandeis Blue
Brandeis blue is an azure-toned shade used as an official color by Brandeis University. It sits right between royal blue and blue on the color wheel. This bright, saturated blue without strong cool or warm undertones has an upbeat, contemporary mood.
With RGB values of R = 0, G = 112, B = 255, Brandeis blue is noticeably lighter and brighter than traditional royal blue. It has a bold, electric appearance without the regal connotations of royal.
This vibrant blue is a modern alternative to royal blue for youthful, casual designs. Use it for logos, branding, fabrics, sportswear and styling accents when you want something playful and eye-catching.
Yves Klein Blue
Named for the French artist Yves Klein, this ultramarine hue is the custom color Klein used in his blue monochrome works. Yves Klein blue is a bright, vivid blue with subtle warm undertones.
Compared to the muted royal blue, Yves Klein blue is much more radiant and saturated. Klein actually worked closely with a chemist to create his perfect shade of blue pigment. On the RGB scale, it is defined as R = 0, G = 47, B = 167.
Use Yves Klein blue when you want to create a bright, contemporary royal blue feeling. It has a bold, dramatic effect. This signature shade evokes Klein’s avant-garde, conceptual approach to art that defied conventions.
Ultramarine
Natural ultramarine is the brilliant blue pigment historically made from the mineral lapis lazuli. This semiprecious stone has been prized for thousands of years for its intense blue color.
Ground lapis lazuli produces a rich, slightly purplish blue with gorgeous depth. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, ultramarine was more valuable than gold for the way it allowed artists to capture light and depth.
Synthetic ultramarine offers an budget way to achieve the dazzling blue color. Compared to royal blue, ultramarine is brighter with more purple undertones. It offers natural vibrance perfect for special accents and dramatic effects.
International Klein Blue
Expanding on his signature blue, Yves Klein later worked with a paint supplier to patent his own custom hue known as International Klein Blue. This standardized blue is slightly lighter than pure ultramarine with more vibrant saturation.
The synthetic pigment PB29 was specially formulated just for Klein’s artistic vision. Officially named “International Klein Blue” in 1960, it maintains Klein’s trademark radiant blue. This standardized blue is brighter and bolder than royal blue.
Use International Klein Blue when you want to recreate Klein’s signatures monochrome blue works. It offers the same creative edge and conceptual feel but in a reproducible color. This custom blue hue became an icon of avant-garde art.
Blue Cola
For a bright blue with a playful, soda-pop energy, Blue Cola offers a bold accent tone. It hits the same saturated blue notes as royal blue but with a much more electric, bubbly vibe.
With RGB values of R = 0, G = 149, B = 221, Blue Cola delivers a bright cyan blue that leans slightly cooler than royal blue. It offers a joyful, refreshing mood perfect for uplifting, casual designs and youthful brands.
Use Blue Cola for a modern spin on royal blue. Its high vibrance gives it fun, laidback appeal. Pair it with bright citrus tones like lime green, tangerine and lemon yellow for a zesty color scheme.
Blueberry Blue
For an edible color pairing, blueberry blue delivers the rich purple-blue hue of fresh blueberries. It’s deeper and warmer than the primary blue royal blue.
Compared to royal blue, blueberry blue has more reddish-purple undertones. But it maintains a similar sense of exotic fruit richness. It pairs beautifully with warm tones like peach, melon, mango and banana.
Use blueberry blue for fruity designs, bakery packaging, themed parties and anywhere you want to evoke a juicy delicious blueberry mood. It’s playful and appetizing yet still sophisticated enough for elegant designs.
Cornflower Blue
Named after the vibrant blue cornflower, this soft pastel blue has a romantic, delicate appearance. It is much lighter and more muted than the saturated royal blue.
Cornflower blue has subtle cool undertones along with lower chroma and value than royal blue. While the two blues are quite distinct, cornflower blue offers a softer more feminine take on the regal color.
Use cornflower blue for floral patterns, girls’ designs, Easter color palettes, and baby design accents. Pair it with pinks, lavenders, peaches and sage greens for a delicate springtime mood.
Glacier Blue
Cool and serene as ice, glacier blue is a pale icy pastel blue that references the blueish tones of glacial ice. Compared to royal blue, it has significantly lower saturation and value.
But glacier blue can offer a lighter, cooler contrast against a bold royal blue in a design palette. The two hues balance each other out nicely. Use glacier blue for snowy winter themes and icy crystalline moods.
Pair it with light grays, frosty lavenders and minty seafoam greens. Try combining it with royal blue for a vibrant wintry color scheme evoking an icy glacier under a twilight sky.
Comparison Table
| Color | HEX Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Blue | #4169E1 | R: 65, G: 105, B: 225 |
| Navy Blue | #00003F | R: 0, G: 31, B: 63 |
| Sapphire Blue | #156EBA | R: 15, G: 82, B: 186 |
| Majorelle Blue | #60BDF5 | R: 96, G: 189, B: 212 |
| Dodger Blue | #1E90FF | R: 30, G: 144, B: 255 |
| Han Blue | #446CCF | R: 68, G: 108, B: 207 |
| Egyptian Blue | #1034A6 | R: 16, G: 52, B: 166 |
| Air Force Blue | #5D8AA8 | R: 93, G: 138, B: 168 |
| Brandeis Blue | #0070FF | R: 0, G: 112, B: 255 |
| Yves Klein Blue | #0002A1 | R: 0, G: 47, B: 167 |
| Ultramarine | #2000B1 | R: 32, G: 0, B: 177 |
| International Klein Blue | #002FA7 | R: 0, G: 47, B: 167 |
| Blue Cola | #0095DD | R: 0, G: 149, B: 221 |
| Blueberry Blue | #464196 | R: 70, G: 65, B: 150 |
| Cornflower Blue | #6495ED | R: 100, G: 149, B: 237 |
| Glacier Blue | #C6FCFF | R: 198, G: 252, B: 255 |
Achieving the Royal Blue Look
When working with color in design, small variations in hue, chroma, value and temperature can make a big difference. Royal blue is a versatile shade with a regal mood. By exploring similar blues, you gain more options to use this royal color in different contexts.
Cooler tones like navy, Air Force blue, and dodger blue offer a more serious, uniform look. While brighter tones like Majorelle, sapphire and Yves Klein blue add drama and modern vibrance. For a softer effect, try pastel cornflower or glacier blue.
Consider the overall style you want to achieve. A traditional sophistication? A contemporary edge? A fun pop of color? Remember to view colors in
