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Dark Red vs Garnet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Red and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Garnet is lighter and Dark Red is more saturated. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.

Dark Red#8B0000
Garnet#733635
#8B0000Blended: #7F1B1B#733635

Dark Red vs Garnet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Red Garnet
BrightnessDark (L=27%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=37%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#8B0000#733635
RGB139, 0, 0115, 54, 53

Can you use Dark Red and Garnet together?

Garnet text on Dark Red
Dark Red text on Garnet
Contrast Ratio:1.10:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Red and Garnet Apart

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

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

Dark Red and Garnet 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.

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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
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Dark Red 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
Dark Red text on white
10.01:1AAA
Sample text preview
Dark Red text on black
2.1:1Fail
Sample text preview
Garnet text on white
9.1:1AAA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on black
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Dark Red text on Garnet
1.1:1Fail
Sample text preview
Garnet text on Dark Red
1.1:1Fail

Explore Dark Red and Garnet individually

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

Garnet color page#733635 · shades, tints, pairings

More Dark Red and Garnet Comparisons

Dark RedvsWineRedvsGarnetMaroonvsDark RedRubyvsGarnetWinevsGarnetDark RedvsScarletRustvsGarnetDark RedvsEspressoGarnetvsGreyDark RedvsBurgundyBrownvsGarnetTaupevsGarnet

Dark Red vs Garnet FAQ

What is the difference between dark red and garnet?+
The main difference between Dark Red and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Garnet is lighter and Dark Red is more saturated. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.
Is dark red darker than garnet?+
Yes. Dark Red is darker, with a lightness of 27% in HSL compared to Garnet at 33% — a 6-point gap.
Are dark red and garnet the same color?+
No. Dark Red is #8B0000 and Garnet is #733635. They differ by 1° in hue, 6% in lightness, and 63% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, dark red or garnet?+
Dark Red is more saturated. In HSL, Dark Red has 100% saturation and Garnet has 37% — Dark Red is the more vivid of the two, while Garnet reads as more muted.
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 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 dark red and garnet together?+
Yes. Both dark red and garnet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use dark red as the dominant color and garnet 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 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%).