Home /Compare /Brown vs Scarlet

Brown vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Brown and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Scarlet is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Brown (#A52A2A) has an HSL of 0°, 59%, 41%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Brown#A52A2A
Scarlet#FF2400
#A52A2ABlended: #D22715#FF2400

Brown vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Brown Scarlet
BrightnessMedium (L=41%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationModerately saturated (S=59%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#A52A2A#FF2400
RGB165, 42, 42255, 36, 0

Can you use Brown and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Brown
Brown text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:1.86:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Brown and Scarlet Apart

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

When to Use Brown vs Scarlet in Design

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

Brown and Scarlet 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
Scarlet#FF2400

Scarlet (#FF2400) is a medium, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Brown and Scarlet 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
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Brown text on Scarlet
1.86:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Brown
1.86:1Fail

Explore Brown and Scarlet individually

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

Brown color page#A52A2A · shades, tints, pairingsScarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairings

More Brown and Scarlet Comparisons

BrownvsWineRedvsScarletBrownvsRubyScarletvsRubyBrownvsGreyScarletvsWineTaupevsBrownRustvsScarletCamelvsBrownScarletvsGreyUmbervsBrownGrayvsScarlet

Brown vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between brown and scarlet?+
The main difference between Brown and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Scarlet is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Brown (#A52A2A) has an HSL of 0°, 59%, 41%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is brown darker than scarlet?+
Yes. Brown is darker, with a lightness of 41% in HSL compared to Scarlet at 50% — a 9-point gap.
Are brown and scarlet the same color?+
No. Brown is #A52A2A and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 8° in hue, 9% in lightness, and 41% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, brown or scarlet?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Brown has 59% saturation and Scarlet has 100% — Scarlet 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 scarlet warm or cool?+
Scarlet (#FF2400) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 8° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use brown and scarlet together?+
Yes. Both brown and scarlet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use brown as the dominant color and scarlet as the accent or highlight.
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 scarlet?+
The hex code for Scarlet is #FF2400. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 36, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(8, 100%, 50%).