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Garnet vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Garnet and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Scarlet is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Garnet (#733635) has an HSL of 1°, 37%, 33%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Garnet#733635
Scarlet#FF2400
#733635Blended: #B92D1B#FF2400

Garnet vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Garnet Scarlet
BrightnessDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantialMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationMuted (S=37%) — subdued, sophisticatedVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#733635#FF2400
RGB115, 54, 53255, 36, 0

Can you use Garnet and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Garnet
Garnet text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:2.38:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Garnet and Scarlet Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Scarlet 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 Garnet vs Scarlet in Design

Use Garnet 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

Garnet and Scarlet 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
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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

Garnet 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
Garnet text on white
9.1:1AAA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on black
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on Scarlet
2.38:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Garnet
2.38:1Fail

Explore Garnet and Scarlet individually

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

Garnet color page#733635 · shades, tints, pairingsScarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairings

More Garnet and Scarlet Comparisons

Garnet vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between garnet and scarlet?+
The main difference between Garnet and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Scarlet is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Garnet (#733635) has an HSL of 1°, 37%, 33%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is garnet darker than scarlet?+
Yes. Garnet is darker, with a lightness of 33% in HSL compared to Scarlet at 50% — a 17-point gap.
Are garnet and scarlet the same color?+
No. Garnet is #733635 and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 7° in hue, 17% in lightness, and 63% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, garnet or scarlet?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Garnet has 37% saturation and Scarlet has 100% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Garnet 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 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 garnet and scarlet together?+
Yes. Both garnet and scarlet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use garnet as the dominant color and scarlet as the accent or highlight.
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 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%).