Home /Compare /Garnet vs Grey

Garnet vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Garnet and Grey is hue — Garnet is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Garnet (#733635) has an HSL of 1°, 37%, 33%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Garnet#733635
Grey#808080
#733635Blended: #7A5B5B#808080

Garnet vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Garnet Grey
BrightnessDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantialMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationMuted (S=37%) — subdued, sophisticatedNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyRedGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#733635#808080
RGB115, 54, 53128, 128, 128

Can you use Garnet and Grey together?

Grey text on Garnet
Garnet text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:2.30:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Garnet and Grey Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Grey is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Garnet 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 Garnet vs Grey in Design

Use Garnet for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Grey for:
●Backgrounds and UI chrome
●Professional corporate design
●Minimalist and modern brands
●Text and secondary elements
●Architectural neutrals

Garnet and Grey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Garnet#733635

Garnet (#733635) is a dark, muted red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Grey#808080

Grey (#808080) is a medium, near-neutral gray with a neutral undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Garnet and Grey 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
Garnet text on white
9.1:1AAA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on black
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on Grey
2.3:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Garnet
2.3:1Fail

Explore Garnet and Grey individually

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

Garnet color page#733635 · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Garnet and Grey Comparisons

RedvsGarnetRedvsGreyRubyvsGarnetGrayvsGreyWinevsGarnetRustvsGreyRustvsGarnetWinevsGreyRubyvsGreyBrownvsGarnetTaupevsGreyTaupevsGarnet

Garnet vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between garnet and grey?+
The main difference between Garnet and Grey is hue — Garnet is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Garnet (#733635) has an HSL of 1°, 37%, 33%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is garnet darker than grey?+
Yes. Garnet is darker, with a lightness of 33% in HSL compared to Grey at 50% — a 17-point gap.
Are garnet and grey the same color?+
No. Garnet is #733635 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 1° in hue, 17% in lightness, and 37% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, garnet or grey?+
Garnet is more saturated. In HSL, Garnet has 37% saturation and Grey has 0% — Garnet is the more vivid of the two, while Grey reads as more muted.
Is garnet warm or cool?+
Garnet (#733635) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 1° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is grey warm or cool?+
Grey (#808080) is a neutral gray. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the neutral range.
Can you use garnet and grey together?+
Yes. Garnet (red) and Grey (gray) 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 garnet belong to?+
Garnet belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 1°, 37%, 33% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for garnet?+
The hex code for Garnet is #733635. In RGB, that's rgb(115, 54, 53), and in HSL it's hsl(1, 37%, 33%).
What is the hex code for grey?+
The hex code for Grey is #808080. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 128, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 0%, 50%).