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Light Coral vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Light Coral and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Light Coral is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Light Coral (#F08080) has an HSL of 0°, 79%, 72%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Light Coral#F08080
Scarlet#FF2400
#F08080Blended: #F85240#FF2400

Light Coral vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Light Coral Scarlet
BrightnessLight (L=72%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=79%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#F08080#FF2400
RGB240, 128, 128255, 36, 0

Can you use Light Coral and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Light Coral
Light Coral text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:1.47:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Light Coral and Scarlet Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Light Coral 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 Light Coral vs Scarlet in Design

Use Light Coral 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

Light Coral and Scarlet Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Light Coral#F08080

Light Coral (#F08080) is a light, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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RGB
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HSV
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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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Light Coral 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
Light Coral text on white
2.59:1Fail
Sample text preview
Light Coral text on black
8.1:1AAA
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Light Coral text on Scarlet
1.47:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Light Coral
1.47:1Fail

Explore Light Coral 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 Light Coral and Scarlet Comparisons

Light Coral vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between light coral and scarlet?+
The main difference between Light Coral and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Light Coral is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Light Coral (#F08080) has an HSL of 0°, 79%, 72%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is light coral darker than scarlet?+
No. Scarlet is the darker of the two at 50% lightness, while Light Coral sits higher at 72%.
Are light coral and scarlet the same color?+
No. Light Coral is #F08080 and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 8° in hue, 22% in lightness, and 21% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, light coral or scarlet?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Light Coral has 79% saturation and Scarlet has 100% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Light Coral reads as more muted.
Is light coral warm or cool?+
Light Coral (#F08080) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° 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 light coral and scarlet together?+
Yes. Both light coral and scarlet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use scarlet as the dominant color and light coral as the accent or highlight.
What color family does light coral belong to?+
Light Coral belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 79%, 72% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for light coral?+
The hex code for Light Coral is #F08080. In RGB, that's rgb(240, 128, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 79%, 72%).
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%).