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Burgundy vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Burgundy and Grey is hue — Burgundy is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Burgundy (#800020) has an HSL of 345°, 100%, 25%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Burgundy#800020
Grey#808080
#800020Blended: #804050#808080
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Burgundy vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Burgundy Grey
BrightnessDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantialMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyRedGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#800020#808080
RGB128, 0, 32128, 128, 128

Can you use Burgundy and Grey together?

Grey text on Burgundy
Burgundy text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:2.74:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Burgundy and Grey Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Grey is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Burgundy looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 345° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Burgundy or Grey: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickBurgundy

Burgundy is more saturated (100% HSL vs 0%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Grey can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickBurgundy

Burgundy hits a 10.83:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Grey only reaches 3.95:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickBurgundy

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickGrey

Grey is the more muted of the two (0% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Burgundy's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Burgundy vs Grey in Design

Use Burgundy for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Grey for:
●Backgrounds and UI chrome
●Professional corporate design
●Minimalist and modern brands
●Text and secondary elements
●Architectural neutrals

Burgundy and Grey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Burgundy#800020

Burgundy (#800020) 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
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Grey#808080

Grey (#808080) is a medium, near-neutral gray with a neutral undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Tints

Burgundy and Grey 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
Burgundy text on white
10.83:1AAA
Sample text preview
Burgundy text on black
1.94:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Burgundy text on Grey
2.74:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Burgundy
2.74:1Fail

Explore Burgundy and Grey individually

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

Burgundy color page#800020 · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Burgundy and Grey Comparisons

RedvsBurgundyRedvsGreyWinevsBurgundyGrayvsGreyBurgundyvsWineRustvsGreyBurgundyvsPlumWinevsGreyNavyvsBurgundyRubyvsGreyRubyvsBurgundyTaupevsGrey

Burgundy vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between burgundy and grey?+
The main difference between Burgundy and Grey is hue — Burgundy is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Burgundy (#800020) has an HSL of 345°, 100%, 25%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is burgundy darker than grey?+
Yes. Burgundy is darker, with a lightness of 25% in HSL compared to Grey at 50% — a 25-point gap.
Are burgundy and grey the same color?+
No. Burgundy is #800020 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 15° in hue, 25% in lightness, and 100% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, burgundy or grey?+
Burgundy is more saturated. In HSL, Burgundy has 100% saturation and Grey has 0% — Burgundy is the more vivid of the two, while Grey reads as more muted.
Is burgundy warm or cool?+
Burgundy (#800020) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 345° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is grey warm or cool?+
Grey (#808080) is a neutral gray. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the neutral range.
Can you use burgundy and grey together?+
Yes. Burgundy (red) and Grey (gray) 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 burgundy belong to?+
Burgundy belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 345°, 100%, 25% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for burgundy?+
The hex code for Burgundy is #800020. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 0, 32), and in HSL it's hsl(345, 100%, 25%).
What is the hex code for grey?+
The hex code for Grey is #808080. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 128, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 0%, 50%).