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Dark Red vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Red and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Scarlet is lighter. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Dark Red#8B0000
Scarlet#FF2400
#8B0000Blended: #C51200#FF2400

Dark Red vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Red Scarlet
BrightnessDark (L=27%) — rich, serious, substantialMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#8B0000#FF2400
RGB139, 0, 0255, 36, 0

Can you use Dark Red and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Dark Red
Dark Red text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:2.62:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Red and Scarlet Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Scarlet is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

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

Dark Red and Scarlet 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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Scarlet#FF2400

Scarlet (#FF2400) is a medium, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
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Dark Red and Scarlet 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
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Dark Red text on Scarlet
2.62:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Dark Red
2.62:1Fail

Explore Dark Red and Scarlet individually

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

Scarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairings

More Dark Red and Scarlet Comparisons

Dark RedvsWineRedvsScarletMaroonvsDark RedScarletvsRubyDark RedvsGarnetScarletvsWineRustvsScarletDark RedvsEspressoScarletvsGreyDark RedvsBurgundyGrayvsScarletScarletvsBrick

Dark Red vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between dark red and scarlet?+
The main difference between Dark Red and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Scarlet is lighter. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is dark red darker than scarlet?+
Yes. Dark Red is darker, with a lightness of 27% in HSL compared to Scarlet at 50% — a 23-point gap.
Are dark red and scarlet the same color?+
No. Dark Red is #8B0000 and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 8° in hue, 23% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, dark red or scarlet?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Dark Red at 100% and Scarlet 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 scarlet warm or cool?+
Scarlet (#FF2400) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 8° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use dark red and scarlet together?+
Yes. Both dark red and scarlet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use dark red as the dominant color and scarlet 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 scarlet?+
The hex code for Scarlet is #FF2400. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 36, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(8, 100%, 50%).