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Brown vs Ruby: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Brown and Ruby is hue — Brown is a warm red, while Ruby is a warm pink. Brown (#A52A2A) has an HSL of 0°, 59%, 41%, whereas Ruby (#E0115F) sits at 337°, 86%, 47%.

Brown#A52A2A
Ruby#E0115F
#A52A2ABlended: #C31E45#E0115F
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Brown vs Ruby: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Brown Ruby
BrightnessMedium (L=41%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationModerately saturated (S=59%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=86%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedPink
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#A52A2A#E0115F
RGB165, 42, 42224, 17, 95

Can you use Brown and Ruby together?

Ruby text on Brown
Brown text on Ruby
Contrast Ratio:1.49:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Brown and Ruby Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Ruby looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 337° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Brown or Ruby: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickRuby

Ruby is more saturated (86% HSL vs 59%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Brown can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickBrown

Brown hits a 7.08:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Ruby only reaches 4.76:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickRuby

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickBrown

Brown is the more muted of the two (59% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Ruby's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Brown vs Ruby in Design

Use Brown for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Ruby for:
●Soft feminine branding
●Beauty, skincare, romance
●Valentine's and weddings
●Youthful and playful design
●Gentle friendly UI accents

Brown and Ruby Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Brown#A52A2A

Brown (#A52A2A) 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
Ruby#E0115F

Ruby (#E0115F) is a medium, vivid pink with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Brown and Ruby 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
Brown text on white
7.08:1AAA
Sample text preview
Brown text on black
2.96:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ruby text on white
4.76:1AA
Sample text preview
Ruby text on black
4.41:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Brown text on Ruby
1.49:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ruby text on Brown
1.49:1Fail

Explore Brown and Ruby individually

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

Brown color page#A52A2A · shades, tints, pairingsRuby color page#E0115F · shades, tints, pairings

More Brown and Ruby Comparisons

BrownvsWineRedvsRubyRubyvsWineBrownvsGreyRubyvsGreyTaupevsBrownRubyvsBrickCamelvsBrownUmbervsBrownRubyvsGarnetBrownvsMochaTomatovsRuby

Brown vs Ruby FAQ

What is the difference between brown and ruby?+
The main difference between Brown and Ruby is hue — Brown is a warm red, while Ruby is a warm pink. Brown (#A52A2A) has an HSL of 0°, 59%, 41%, whereas Ruby (#E0115F) sits at 337°, 86%, 47%.
Is brown darker than ruby?+
Yes. Brown is darker, with a lightness of 41% in HSL compared to Ruby at 47% — a 6-point gap.
Are brown and ruby the same color?+
No. Brown is #A52A2A and Ruby is #E0115F. They differ by 23° in hue, 6% in lightness, and 27% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, brown or ruby?+
Ruby is more saturated. In HSL, Brown has 59% saturation and Ruby has 86% — Ruby is the more vivid of the two, while Brown reads as more muted.
Is brown warm or cool?+
Brown (#A52A2A) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is ruby warm or cool?+
Ruby (#E0115F) is a warm pink. Its hue sits at 337° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use brown and ruby together?+
Yes. Brown (red) and Ruby (pink) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does brown belong to?+
Brown belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 59%, 41% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for brown?+
The hex code for Brown is #A52A2A. In RGB, that's rgb(165, 42, 42), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 59%, 41%).
What is the hex code for ruby?+
The hex code for Ruby is #E0115F. In RGB, that's rgb(224, 17, 95), and in HSL it's hsl(337, 86%, 47%).