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Dark Red vs Wine: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Red and Wine is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Wine is lighter and Dark Red is more saturated. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Wine (#722F37) sits at 353°, 42%, 32%.

Dark Red#8B0000
Wine#722F37
#8B0000Blended: #7F181C#722F37
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Dark Red vs Wine: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Red Wine
BrightnessDark (L=27%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=32%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingModerately saturated (S=42%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#8B0000#722F37
RGB139, 0, 0114, 47, 55

Can you use Dark Red and Wine together?

Wine text on Dark Red
Dark Red text on Wine
Contrast Ratio:1.04:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Red and Wine 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.

Dark Red or Wine: 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 42%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Wine 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 Wine only reaches 9.65:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickWine

Wine 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
PickWine

Wine is the more muted of the two (42% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Dark Red's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

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

Dark Red and Wine 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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Wine#722F37

Wine (#722F37) is a dark, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Dark Red and Wine 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
Wine text on white
9.65:1AAA
Sample text preview
Wine text on black
2.18:1Fail
Sample text preview
Dark Red text on Wine
1.04:1Fail
Sample text preview
Wine text on Dark Red
1.04:1Fail

Explore Dark Red and Wine individually

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

Wine color page#722F37 · shades, tints, pairings

More Dark Red and Wine Comparisons

RedvsWineMaroonvsDark RedRubyvsWineDark RedvsGarnetRustvsWineDark RedvsScarletWinevsGreyDark RedvsEspressoBrickvsWineDark RedvsBurgundyBrownvsWineMaroonvsWine

Dark Red vs Wine FAQ

What is the difference between dark red and wine?+
The main difference between Dark Red and Wine is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Wine is lighter and Dark Red is more saturated. Dark Red (#8B0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 27%, whereas Wine (#722F37) sits at 353°, 42%, 32%.
Is dark red darker than wine?+
Yes. Dark Red is darker, with a lightness of 27% in HSL compared to Wine at 32% — a 5-point gap.
Are dark red and wine the same color?+
No. Dark Red is #8B0000 and Wine is #722F37. They differ by 7° in hue, 5% in lightness, and 58% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, dark red or wine?+
Dark Red is more saturated. In HSL, Dark Red has 100% saturation and Wine has 42% — Dark Red is the more vivid of the two, while Wine 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 wine warm or cool?+
Wine (#722F37) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 353° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use dark red and wine together?+
Yes. Both dark red and wine are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use dark red as the dominant color and wine 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 wine?+
The hex code for Wine is #722F37. In RGB, that's rgb(114, 47, 55), and in HSL it's hsl(353, 42%, 32%).