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Brick vs Maroon: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Brick and Maroon is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Brick is lighter and Maroon is more saturated. Brick and Maroon are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Brick (#CB4154) and Maroon (#800000) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Brick#CB4154
Maroon#800000
#CB4154Blended: #A6212A#800000
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Brick vs Maroon: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Brick Maroon
BrightnessMedium (L=53%) — balanced, versatileDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationModerately saturated (S=57%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#CB4154#800000
RGB203, 65, 84128, 0, 0

Can you use Brick and Maroon together?

Maroon text on Brick
Brick text on Maroon
Contrast Ratio:2.31:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Brick and Maroon Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Brick is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Maroon looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Brick or Maroon: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickMaroon

Maroon is more saturated (100% HSL vs 57%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Brick can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickMaroon

Maroon hits a 10.95:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Brick only reaches 4.75:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickBrick

Brick is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Maroon leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickBrick

Brick is the more muted of the two (57% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Maroon's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Brick vs Maroon in Design

Use Brick for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Maroon for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion

Brick and Maroon Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Brick#CB4154

Brick (#CB4154) is a medium, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Maroon#800000

Maroon (#800000) is a dark, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Brick and Maroon WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview
Brick text on white
4.75:1AA
Sample text preview
Brick text on black
4.42:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Maroon text on white
10.95:1AAA
Sample text preview
Maroon text on black
1.92:1Fail
Sample text preview
Brick text on Maroon
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Maroon text on Brick
2.31:1Fail

Explore Brick and Maroon individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Maroon color page#800000 · shades, tints, pairings

More Brick and Maroon Comparisons

RedvsBrickRedvsMaroonRubyvsBrickMaroonvsWineBrickvsWineRustvsMaroonTomatovsBrickRubyvsMaroonBrickvsCherryTomatovsMaroonCrimsonvsBrickCherryvsMaroon

Brick vs Maroon FAQ

What is the difference between brick and maroon?+
The main difference between Brick and Maroon is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Brick is lighter and Maroon is more saturated. Brick and Maroon are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Brick (#CB4154) and Maroon (#800000) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is brick darker than maroon?+
No. Maroon is the darker of the two at 25% lightness, while Brick sits higher at 53%.
Are brick and maroon the same color?+
No. Brick is #CB4154 and Maroon is #800000. They differ by 8° in hue, 28% in lightness, and 43% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, brick or maroon?+
Maroon is more saturated. In HSL, Brick has 57% saturation and Maroon has 100% — Maroon is the more vivid of the two, while Brick reads as more muted.
Is brick warm or cool?+
Brick (#CB4154) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 352° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is maroon warm or cool?+
Maroon (#800000) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use brick and maroon together?+
Yes. Both brick and maroon are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use maroon as the dominant color and brick as the accent or highlight.
What color family does brick belong to?+
Brick belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 352°, 57%, 53% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for brick?+
The hex code for Brick is #CB4154. In RGB, that's rgb(203, 65, 84), and in HSL it's hsl(352, 57%, 53%).
What is the hex code for maroon?+
The hex code for Maroon is #800000. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 0, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 100%, 25%).