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Maroon vs Garnet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Maroon and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Garnet is lighter and Maroon is more saturated. Maroon (#800000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 25%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.

Maroon#800000
Garnet#733635
#800000Blended: #7A1B1B#733635
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Maroon vs Garnet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Maroon Garnet
BrightnessDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=37%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#800000#733635
RGB128, 0, 0115, 54, 53

Can you use Maroon and Garnet together?

Garnet text on Maroon
Maroon text on Garnet
Contrast Ratio:1.20:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Maroon and Garnet Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Garnet is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Maroon looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Maroon or Garnet: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickMaroon

Maroon is more saturated (100% HSL vs 37%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Garnet can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickMaroon

Maroon hits a 10.95:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Garnet only reaches 9.10:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickGarnet

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickGarnet

Garnet is the more muted of the two (37% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Maroon's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Maroon vs Garnet in Design

Use Maroon for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Garnet for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion

Maroon and Garnet Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Maroon#800000

Maroon (#800000) is a dark, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
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

Maroon and Garnet 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
Maroon text on white
10.95:1AAA
Sample text preview
Maroon text on black
1.92:1Fail
Sample text preview
Garnet text on white
9.1:1AAA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on black
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Maroon text on Garnet
1.2:1Fail
Sample text preview
Garnet text on Maroon
1.2:1Fail

Explore Maroon and Garnet individually

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

Maroon color page#800000 · shades, tints, pairingsGarnet color page#733635 · shades, tints, pairings

More Maroon and Garnet Comparisons

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Maroon vs Garnet FAQ

What is the difference between maroon and garnet?+
The main difference between Maroon and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Garnet is lighter and Maroon is more saturated. Maroon (#800000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 25%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.
Is maroon darker than garnet?+
Yes. Maroon is darker, with a lightness of 25% in HSL compared to Garnet at 33% — a 8-point gap.
Are maroon and garnet the same color?+
No. Maroon is #800000 and Garnet is #733635. They differ by 1° in hue, 8% in lightness, and 63% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, maroon or garnet?+
Maroon is more saturated. In HSL, Maroon has 100% saturation and Garnet has 37% — Maroon is the more vivid of the two, while Garnet reads as more muted.
Is maroon warm or cool?+
Maroon (#800000) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
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.
Can you use maroon and garnet together?+
Yes. Both maroon and garnet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use maroon as the dominant color and garnet as the accent or highlight.
What color family does maroon belong to?+
Maroon belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 100%, 25% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for maroon?+
The hex code for Maroon is #800000. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 0, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 100%, 25%).
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%).