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Red vs Brick: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Red and Brick is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Red is more saturated. Red and Brick are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Red (#FF0000) and Brick (#CB4154) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Red#FF0000
Brick#CB4154
#FF0000Blended: #E5212A#CB4154
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Red vs Brick: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Red Brick
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=53%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingModerately saturated (S=57%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FF0000#CB4154
RGB255, 0, 0203, 65, 84

Can you use Red and Brick together?

Brick text on Red
Red text on Brick
Contrast Ratio:1.19:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Red and Brick Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Red looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Red or Brick: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickRed

Red is more saturated (100% HSL vs 57%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Brick can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickBrick

Brick hits a 4.75:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Red only reaches 4.00:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickBrick

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickBrick

Brick is the more muted of the two (57% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Red's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Red vs Brick in Design

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

Red and Brick Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Red#FF0000

Red (#FF0000) 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
Brick#CB4154

Brick (#CB4154) is a medium, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Red and Brick 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
Red text on white
4:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Red text on black
5.25:1AA
Sample text preview
Brick text on white
4.75:1AA
Sample text preview
Brick text on black
4.42:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Red text on Brick
1.19:1Fail
Sample text preview
Brick text on Red
1.19:1Fail

Explore Red and Brick individually

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

Red color page#FF0000 · shades, tints, pairings

More Red and Brick Comparisons

RedvsRubyRedvsWineRubyvsBrickRedvsBlueBrickvsWineRedvsGreyTomatovsBrickCoralvsRedBrickvsCherryBrickvsMaroonBlackvsRedCrimsonvsBrick

Red vs Brick FAQ

What is the difference between red and brick?+
The main difference between Red and Brick is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Red is more saturated. Red and Brick are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Red (#FF0000) and Brick (#CB4154) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is red darker than brick?+
Yes. Red is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Brick at 53% — a 3-point gap.
Are red and brick the same color?+
No. Red is #FF0000 and Brick is #CB4154. They differ by 8° in hue, 3% in lightness, and 43% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, red or brick?+
Red is more saturated. In HSL, Red has 100% saturation and Brick has 57% — Red is the more vivid of the two, while Brick reads as more muted.
Is red warm or cool?+
Red (#FF0000) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is brick warm or cool?+
Brick (#CB4154) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 352° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use red and brick together?+
Yes. Both red and brick are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use red as the dominant color and brick as the accent or highlight.
What color family does red belong to?+
Red belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 0°, 100%, 50% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for red?+
The hex code for Red is #FF0000. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 0, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 100%, 50%).
What is the hex code for brick?+
The hex code for Brick is #CB4154. In RGB, that's rgb(203, 65, 84), and in HSL it's hsl(352, 57%, 53%).