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Dark Salmon vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Salmon and Scarlet is hue — Dark Salmon is a warm orange, while Scarlet is a warm red. Dark Salmon (#E9967A) has an HSL of 15°, 72%, 70%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Dark Salmon#E9967A
Scarlet#FF2400
#E9967ABlended: #F45D3D#FF2400

Dark Salmon vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Salmon Scarlet
BrightnessLight (L=70%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=72%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#E9967A#FF2400
RGB233, 150, 122255, 36, 0

Can you use Dark Salmon and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Dark Salmon
Dark Salmon text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:1.65:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Salmon and Scarlet Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Dark Salmon is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Scarlet 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 Salmon vs Scarlet in Design

Use Dark Salmon for:
Call-to-action buttons
Autumn and harvest themes
Food, citrus, warmth branding
Youthful energetic campaigns
Friendly notification badges
Use Scarlet for:
Alerts, errors, stop states
Sale & promotion banners
Food and beverage packaging
Sports and energy branding
Romantic & bold fashion

Dark Salmon and Scarlet Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Dark Salmon#E9967A

Dark Salmon (#E9967A) is a light, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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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
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Dark Salmon 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 Salmon text on white
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Dark Salmon text on black
9.11:1AAA
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 Salmon text on Scarlet
1.65:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Dark Salmon
1.65:1Fail

Explore Dark Salmon 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 Salmon and Scarlet Comparisons

Dark Salmon vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between dark salmon and scarlet?+
The main difference between Dark Salmon and Scarlet is hue — Dark Salmon is a warm orange, while Scarlet is a warm red. Dark Salmon (#E9967A) has an HSL of 15°, 72%, 70%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is dark salmon darker than scarlet?+
No. Scarlet is the darker of the two at 50% lightness, while Dark Salmon sits higher at 70%.
Are dark salmon and scarlet the same color?+
No. Dark Salmon is #E9967A and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 7° in hue, 20% in lightness, and 28% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, dark salmon or scarlet?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Dark Salmon has 72% saturation and Scarlet has 100% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Dark Salmon reads as more muted.
Is dark salmon warm or cool?+
Dark Salmon (#E9967A) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 15° 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 salmon and scarlet together?+
Yes. Dark Salmon (orange) and Scarlet (red) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does dark salmon belong to?+
Dark Salmon belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 15°, 72%, 70% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for dark salmon?+
The hex code for Dark Salmon is #E9967A. In RGB, that's rgb(233, 150, 122), and in HSL it's hsl(15, 72%, 70%).
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%).