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Dark Red vs Burgundy: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Red and Burgundy is a subtle hue shift within the red family — the hue angle moves 15° between them, changing the perceived undertone. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Burgundy (#800020) sits at 345°, 100%, 25%.

Dark Red#8B0000
Burgundy#800020
#8B0000Blended: #860010#800020
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Dark Red vs Burgundy: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Red Burgundy
BrightnessDark (L=27%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#8B0000#800020
RGB139, 0, 0128, 0, 32

Can you use Dark Red and Burgundy together?

Burgundy text on Dark Red
Dark Red text on Burgundy
Contrast Ratio:1.08:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Red and Burgundy Apart

  • ●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.

Dark Red or Burgundy: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickDark Red

Dark Red is more saturated (100% HSL vs 100%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Burgundy 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 Dark Red only reaches 10.01:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickDark Red

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickDark Red

Dark Red is the more muted of the two (100% 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 Dark Red vs Burgundy in Design

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

Dark Red and Burgundy Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Dark Red#8B0000

Dark Red (#8B0000) 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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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
Shades
Tints

Dark Red and Burgundy 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
Dark Red text on white
10.01:1AAA
Sample text preview
Dark Red text on black
2.1:1Fail
Sample text preview
Burgundy text on white
10.83:1AAA
Sample text preview
Burgundy text on black
1.94:1Fail
Sample text preview
Dark Red text on Burgundy
1.08:1Fail
Sample text preview
Burgundy text on Dark Red
1.08:1Fail

Explore Dark Red and Burgundy individually

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

Burgundy color page#800020 · shades, tints, pairings

More Dark Red and Burgundy Comparisons

Dark RedvsWineRedvsBurgundyMaroonvsDark RedWinevsBurgundyDark RedvsGarnetBurgundyvsWineDark RedvsScarletBurgundyvsPlumDark RedvsEspressoNavyvsBurgundyRubyvsBurgundyPlumvsBurgundy

Dark Red vs Burgundy FAQ

What is the difference between dark red and burgundy?+
The main difference between Dark Red and Burgundy is a subtle hue shift within the red family — the hue angle moves 15° between them, changing the perceived undertone. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Burgundy (#800020) sits at 345°, 100%, 25%.
Is dark red darker than burgundy?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Dark Red sits at 27% lightness and Burgundy at 25% — the difference is only 2 percentage points.
Are dark red and burgundy the same color?+
No. Dark Red is #8B0000 and Burgundy is #800020. They differ by 15° in hue, 2% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, dark red or burgundy?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Dark Red at 100% and Burgundy at 100% in HSL.
Is dark red warm or cool?+
Dark Red (#8B0000) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
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.
Can you use dark red and burgundy together?+
Yes. Both dark red and burgundy are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use burgundy as the dominant color and dark red as the accent or highlight.
What color family does dark red belong to?+
Dark Red belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 100%, 27% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for dark red?+
The hex code for Dark Red is #8B0000. In RGB, that's rgb(139, 0, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 100%, 27%).
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%).