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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
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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.

Dark Red or Scarlet: 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 Scarlet can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickDark Red

Dark Red hits a 10.01:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Scarlet only reaches 3.82:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickScarlet

Scarlet is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Dark Red 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 Scarlet's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

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.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
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
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

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%).