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Crimson vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Crimson and Grey is hue — Crimson is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Crimson (#DC143C) has an HSL of 348°, 83%, 47%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Crimson#DC143C
Grey#808080
#DC143CBlended: #AE4A5E#808080

Crimson vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Crimson Grey
BrightnessMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=83%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyRedGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#DC143C#808080
RGB220, 20, 60128, 128, 128

Can you use Crimson and Grey together?

Grey text on Crimson
Crimson text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:1.26:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Crimson and Grey Apart

  • Check saturation: Crimson looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 348° 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 Grey in Design

Use Crimson 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

Crimson and Grey 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
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
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PANTONE
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Crimson 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
Crimson text on white
4.99:1AA
Sample text preview
Crimson text on black
4.21:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Crimson text on Grey
1.26:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Crimson
1.26:1Fail

Explore Crimson and Grey individually

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

Crimson color page#DC143C · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Crimson and Grey Comparisons

Crimson vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between crimson and grey?+
The main difference between Crimson and Grey is hue — Crimson is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Crimson (#DC143C) has an HSL of 348°, 83%, 47%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is crimson darker than grey?+
Yes. Crimson is darker, with a lightness of 47% in HSL compared to Grey at 50% — a 3-point gap.
Are crimson and grey the same color?+
No. Crimson is #DC143C and Grey is #808080. They differ by 12° in hue, 3% in lightness, and 83% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, crimson or grey?+
Crimson is more saturated. In HSL, Crimson has 83% saturation and Grey has 0% — Crimson is the more vivid of the two, while Grey 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 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 crimson and grey together?+
Yes. Crimson (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 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 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%).