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Crimson vs Brick: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Crimson and Brick is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Brick is lighter and Crimson is more saturated. Crimson and Brick are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Crimson (#DC143C) and Brick (#CB4154) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Crimson#DC143C
Brick#CB4154
#DC143CBlended: #D42B48#CB4154
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Crimson vs Brick: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Crimson Brick
BrightnessMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=53%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=83%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingModerately saturated (S=57%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#DC143C#CB4154
RGB220, 20, 60203, 65, 84

Can you use Crimson and Brick together?

Brick text on Crimson
Crimson text on Brick
Contrast Ratio:1.05:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Crimson and Brick Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Crimson looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Crimson or Brick: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickCrimson

Crimson is more saturated (83% 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
PickCrimson

Crimson hits a 4.99:1 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 Crimson 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 Crimson's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Crimson vs Brick in Design

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

Crimson and Brick Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Crimson#DC143C

Crimson (#DC143C) 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
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

Crimson and Brick 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
Crimson text on white
4.99:1AA
Sample text preview
Crimson text on black
4.21:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Brick text on white
4.75:1AA
Sample text preview
Brick text on black
4.42:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Crimson text on Brick
1.05:1Fail
Sample text preview
Brick text on Crimson
1.05:1Fail

Explore Crimson and Brick individually

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

Crimson color page#DC143C · shades, tints, pairings

More Crimson and Brick Comparisons

RedvsCrimsonRedvsBrickCrimsonvsRubyRubyvsBrickCrimsonvsWineBrickvsWineCrimsonvsGreyTomatovsBrickBrickvsCherryCrimsonvsTomatoBrickvsMaroonCrimsonvsCherry

Crimson vs Brick FAQ

What is the difference between crimson and brick?+
The main difference between Crimson and Brick is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Brick is lighter and Crimson is more saturated. Crimson and Brick are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Crimson (#DC143C) and Brick (#CB4154) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is crimson darker than brick?+
Yes. Crimson is darker, with a lightness of 47% in HSL compared to Brick at 53% — a 6-point gap.
Are crimson and brick the same color?+
No. Crimson is #DC143C and Brick is #CB4154. They differ by 4° in hue, 6% in lightness, and 26% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, crimson or brick?+
Crimson is more saturated. In HSL, Crimson has 83% saturation and Brick has 57% — Crimson is the more vivid of the two, while Brick reads as more muted.
Is crimson warm or cool?+
Crimson (#DC143C) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 348° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
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.
Can you use crimson and brick together?+
Yes. Both crimson and brick are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use crimson as the dominant color and brick as the accent or highlight.
What color family does crimson belong to?+
Crimson belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 348°, 83%, 47% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for crimson?+
The hex code for Crimson is #DC143C. In RGB, that's rgb(220, 20, 60), and in HSL it's hsl(348, 83%, 47%).
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%).