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Crimson vs Garnet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Crimson and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Crimson is lighter and Crimson is more saturated. Crimson (#DC143C) has an HSL of 348°, 83%, 47%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.

Crimson#DC143C
Garnet#733635
#DC143CBlended: #A82539#733635

Crimson vs Garnet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Crimson Garnet
BrightnessMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatileDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=83%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=37%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#DC143C#733635
RGB220, 20, 60115, 54, 53

Can you use Crimson and Garnet together?

Garnet text on Crimson
Crimson text on Garnet
Contrast Ratio:1.82:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Crimson and Garnet Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Crimson is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Crimson looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 347° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Crimson vs Garnet in Design

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

Crimson and Garnet 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.

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RGB
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HSV
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PANTONE
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Garnet#733635

Garnet (#733635) is a dark, muted red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Crimson and Garnet 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
Garnet text on white
9.1:1AAA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on black
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Crimson text on Garnet
1.82:1Fail
Sample text preview
Garnet text on Crimson
1.82:1Fail

Explore Crimson and Garnet individually

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

Crimson color page#DC143C · shades, tints, pairingsGarnet color page#733635 · shades, tints, pairings

More Crimson and Garnet Comparisons

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Crimson vs Garnet FAQ

What is the difference between crimson and garnet?+
The main difference between Crimson and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Crimson is lighter and Crimson is more saturated. Crimson (#DC143C) has an HSL of 348°, 83%, 47%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.
Is crimson darker than garnet?+
No. Garnet is the darker of the two at 33% lightness, while Crimson sits higher at 47%.
Are crimson and garnet the same color?+
No. Crimson is #DC143C and Garnet is #733635. They differ by 13° in hue, 14% in lightness, and 46% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, crimson or garnet?+
Crimson is more saturated. In HSL, Crimson has 83% saturation and Garnet has 37% — Crimson is the more vivid of the two, while Garnet 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 garnet warm or cool?+
Garnet (#733635) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 1° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use crimson and garnet together?+
Yes. Both crimson and garnet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use garnet as the dominant color and crimson 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 garnet?+
The hex code for Garnet is #733635. In RGB, that's rgb(115, 54, 53), and in HSL it's hsl(1, 37%, 33%).