Home /Compare /Red vs Grey

Red vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Red and Grey is hue — Red is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Red (#FF0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 50%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Red#FF0000
Grey#808080
#FF0000Blended: #C04040#808080

Red vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Red Grey
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyRedGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#FF0000#808080
RGB255, 0, 0128, 128, 128

Can you use Red and Grey together?

Grey text on Red
Red text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:1.01:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Red and Grey 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.

When to Use Red vs Grey in Design

Use Red 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

Red and Grey 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
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

Red 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
Red text on white
4:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Red text on black
5.25:1AA
Sample text preview
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Red text on Grey
1.01:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Red
1.01:1Fail

Explore Red and Grey individually

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

Red color page#FF0000 · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Red and Grey Comparisons

RedvsRubyRedvsWineGrayvsGreyRedvsBlueRustvsGreyWinevsGreyCoralvsRedRubyvsGreyRedvsBrickTaupevsGreyBlackvsRedBlackvsGrey

Red vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between red and grey?+
The main difference between Red and Grey is hue — Red is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Red (#FF0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 50%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is red darker than grey?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Red sits at 50% lightness and Grey at 50% — the difference is only 0 percentage points.
Are red and grey the same color?+
No. Red is #FF0000 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 0° in hue, 0% in lightness, and 100% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, red or grey?+
Red is more saturated. In HSL, Red has 100% saturation and Grey has 0% — Red is the more vivid of the two, while Grey 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 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 red and grey together?+
Yes. Red (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 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 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%).