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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
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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.

Dark Salmon or Scarlet: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickScarlet

Scarlet is more saturated (100% HSL vs 72%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Dark Salmon can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickScarlet

Scarlet hits a 3.82:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Dark Salmon only reaches 2.31:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickDark Salmon

Dark Salmon is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Scarlet leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickDark Salmon

Dark Salmon is the more muted of the two (72% 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 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.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
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 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

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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%).