How to Mix Cobalt Blue in Oil

A pure, mid-value blue. Neutral leaning (neither warm nor cool). This guide gives you the pigment ratios that land on #2E4C99 in oil, using the same solver that powers the Chromilla mixer.

Target

Cobalt Blue

#2E4C99

Mixed result

96% match

From these pigments

#224BA1

Pigment recipe

Checked August 2026

Ratios calibrated for oil. Start with the dominant pigment, add the modifiers in the order below, and adjust in 5% steps to your target swatch.

1. Ultramarine Blue
PB29
59%
2. Phthalo Blue
PB15
26%
3. Titanium White
PW6
15%

What colors make Cobalt Blue?

Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, and Titanium White, in roughly a 59:26:15 ratio.

How to make Cobalt Blue in oil

Start with Ultramarine Blue at about 59% as your oil base, then work in Phthalo Blue and Titanium White in the order above. Adjust in 5% steps until the swatch reads #2E4C99.

Why mix Cobalt Blue instead of buying it

Mixing Cobalt Blue yourself lets you approximate an expensive or hard to find tube from pigments you already own, match Cobalt Blue across paint brands whose factory tubes differ, and rebuild the exact color when you run out mid painting. The recipe above is the working starting point.

Common mistakes

That pigment is a very strong tinter, add it a touch at a time or it will swallow the mix. White cools and chalks a mix as you add it, so tint in small steps and stop before it goes pastel.

Get this recipe for your paint brand

Open the live mixer with Cobalt Blue + oil pre-loaded and calibrate to your tubes.

Open in mixer

Related mixing guides

Pigment mixing is subtractive, so small ratio changes matter. The mixer refines this recipe to your brand and updates on the fly.