Blue

RAL 5013

Cobalt Blue

RAL 5013 Cobalt Blue is a deep, intense blue with a storied history rooted in the cobalt oxide pigments used in fine ceramics and porcelain since the Middle Ages. This rich shade carries associations with Delft pottery, Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, and traditional European tile work. In modern coatings, Cobalt Blue is specified for luxury interiors, museum installations, and architectural projects that reference historical craft traditions while maintaining a contemporary sensibility.

Time9:36 AM
Light
Technical Reference

Color Reference

Hex#232D53
RGBrgb(35, 45, 83)
HSLhsl(228°, 41%, 23%)
CMYKcmyk(58%, 46%, 0%, 67%)
Color Analysis
RGB Composition
R
35
G
45
B
83
Temperature
WarmCool
Contrast Accessibility
White text
13.4:1Pass
Black text
1.6:1Fail

WCAG 2.1 AA requires 4.5:1 contrast for normal text. Results show this color as a background.

Spectrum & Perceptual Position

Hue Spectrum
60°120°180°240°300°360°
CIELAB a*b* Chromaticity
-4004080-4004080a* (Green ← → Red)b* (Blue ← → Yellow)
L* (Lightness)19
a* (Green-Red)8
b* (Blue-Yellow)-25
L* (LCh)19
C* (Chroma)26
h° (Hue)289°

CIELAB is a perceptually uniform color space. Euclidean distance between two colors in this diagram closely matches human visual difference. The dot size shows your selected color; slightly larger dots are the nearest perceptual neighbors.

Color Harmonies

Build a Palette Around Cobalt Blue

Palette Generator

Select a harmony type, then press Space to reroll unlocked colors.

1 locked / 4 free

Reference + opposite hue with tonal variations

Reference
#2
Complementary
#3
Complementary
#4
Complementary
#5
Split Comp +
Pairwise Contrast Ratios
1.4:1
·
2.1:1
·
2.8:1
·
1.5:1

Contrast ratios follow WCAG 2.1 guidelines. Green (≥4.5:1) passes AA for normal text. Amber (≥3:1) passes for large text only. Grey indicates low contrast.

Ready to Coat in Cobalt Blue?

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Recommended Powders

Recommended for RAL 5013

Exact (2)

RAL 5013 SatinExact Match
SKU: RLS3-20011Sherwin-WilliamsPowduraAAMA 260325-35 glosssmooth
RAL 5013 High GlossExact Match
SKU: RLS8-00018Sherwin-WilliamsPowduraAAMA 260386-99 glosssmooth

Close (7)

ConstellationClose Match
SKU: PFK721M9Axalta Coating SystemsAlesta70-80 glosscolor-flop metallic
Dark Blue 80 GlossClose Match
SKU: T008-BL20Cardinal Paint & PowderCardinal Powder80 glosssmooth
High SaluteClose Match
SKU: PCNT59159PPPG IndustriesCoraflon PlatinumAAMA 260510-20 glosssmooth
Westcott Navy SpeckleClose Match
SKU: PCNT74102PPPG IndustriesCoraflon PlatinumAAMA 26053-9 glossspeckle
High Gloss Cobalt BlueClose Match
SKU: PCNT59150PPPG IndustriesCoraflon PlatinumAAMA 260580+ glosssmooth
Cobalt BlueClose Match
SKU: 6820-5061TCI Powder CoatingsTCI60-69 glosssmooth
Interstate BlueClose Match
SKU: 038/40025Tiger Drylac USATiger DrylacAAMA 260416-25 glosssmooth

About These Recommendations

These are powder formulations that correspond to this RAL color based on manufacturer data sheets. Exact powders are coded to this specific RAL code. Close powders are visually similar alternatives we have used before. We do not sell powder directly — we use these formulations to coat your parts. Call us to discuss your project and we will confirm the best option for your timeline.

Call to Discuss Your ProjectWe will confirm the best powder and finish for your parts and timeline.