Blue vs Dark Blue Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on blue vs dark blue. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
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The general color family between green and violet.
“The ocean looked blue today.”
A darker shade of blue, with less lightness.
“He wore a dark blue suit to the interview.”
A very dark blue, linked to naval uniforms.
“Her navy coat goes with everything.”
A color made darker by adding black.
“Dark blue is a shade of blue.”
The blue vs dark blue question comes up when you pick paint, clothes, logos or website colors. Both are blue, but they do not look or feel the same. One is the broad color name, and the other is a darker version of it. Here is how they compare.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| blue | The color family between green and violet; also the CSS color #0000FF | Color name (noun or adjective) | The blue flag waved in the wind. |
| dark blue | A darker shade of blue; the CSS color darkblue is #00008B | Color name (adjective + noun) | She painted the door dark blue. |
| navy | A very dark blue; the CSS color navy is #000080 | Color name (noun or adjective) | He bought a navy blazer. |
What does “blue” mean as a color?
Blue is the name of the color family that sits between green and violet in the visible spectrum. Blue light has a wavelength of roughly 450 to 495 nanometers.
The word covers a huge range, from pale sky blue to deep navy. When someone just says “blue,” they usually mean a medium, clearly blue color, but the word can stretch to include lighter and darker versions.
What does “dark blue” mean?
Dark blue is a blue with less lightness, so it looks deeper, richer and less bright. It has the same basic hue as blue, but it sits at the darker end of the range.
In design terms, dark blue is a shade of blue. A shade is a color made darker by adding black. Examples include navy, midnight blue and the CSS color darkblue.
What is the difference between a shade, a tint and a tone?
A shade is a color with black added, a tint is a color with white added, and a tone is a color with gray added. Dark blue is a shade. Light blue and baby blue are tints.
This is the clearest way to explain blue vs dark blue: both share the same basic hue, but dark blue has more black mixed in.
Is navy the same as dark blue?
Navy is one specific dark blue, so all navy is dark blue, but not all dark blue is navy. Navy is very dark and slightly muted. The name is traditionally linked to the dark blue of naval uniforms.
Other dark blues include midnight blue, which is even deeper, and the CSS color darkblue, which is a bit brighter than navy.
Blue vs dark blue: what is the main difference?
The main difference is lightness. Blue is the broad color family, and dark blue is a darker, deeper shade within it. Dark blue looks more serious, formal and calm, while a brighter blue feels more open and energetic.
In practice, the two are used differently. Dark blue is common for business clothing, uniforms and corporate branding, while a medium blue is common for links, buttons and casual design.
How can you remember which one to use?
Ask yourself whether the color looks deep and dark, or just clearly blue. If it is noticeably deep, close to black, use dark blue. If it is a clear, medium color, use blue. The memory tricks below make it easy.
Common mistakes
- ✗ She wore a darkblue suit.
✓ She wore a dark blue suit. - ✗ Blue and dark blue are exactly the same color.
✓ Dark blue is a darker shade of blue. - ✗ I made the paint dark blue by adding white.
✓ I made the paint dark blue by adding black. - ✗ Sky blue and navy are both dark blue.
✓ Navy is a dark blue, and sky blue is a light blue. - ✗ The jacket is dark-blue.
✓ The jacket is dark blue.
Memory tricks
- Dark means black: To get dark blue, add black to blue. To get light blue, add white.
- Think of a paint strip: Blue sits in the middle of the strip, and dark blue sits at the dark end.
- Same hue, less light: Blue and dark blue share the same basic hue. Only the lightness drops.
FAQ
What is the difference between blue and dark blue?
Blue is the general name for the color family between green and violet. Dark blue is a darker shade of blue with less lightness, usually made by adding black.
Is navy the same as dark blue?
Navy is a specific very dark blue. All navy is dark blue, but not all dark blue is navy, because other dark blues such as midnight blue are different.
How do you make dark blue?
Mix a small amount of black into blue paint. Add the black gradually, because black overpowers other colors quickly.
Is it dark blue or dark-blue?
Many style guides write it as two words after a noun, as in the jacket is dark blue. Some hyphenate it before a noun, as in a dark-blue jacket, so follow your style guide and stay consistent.
What are the CSS color codes for blue and dark blue?
The CSS named color blue is #0000FF and darkblue is #00008B. Navy is #000080.
Conclusion
Now you know the blue vs dark blue difference: blue is the broad color family, and dark blue is a deeper shade made by adding black. Share this with someone who is choosing paint, clothes or brand colors.