Navy Blue vs Imperial Blue

How close are they?

ΔE 13.9, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Imperial Blue is noticeably lighter, more saturated than Navy Blue.

Can I use Imperial Blue instead of Navy Blue?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 14). Imperial Blue is noticeably lighter, more saturated than Navy Blue.

Can I use Navy Blue instead of Imperial Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Navy Blue is noticeably darker, more muted.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.