Red vs Terracotta: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Red and Terracotta is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Terracotta is lighter and Red is more saturated. Red (#FF0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 50%, whereas Terracotta (#E2725B) sits at 10°, 70%, 62%.

Red#FF0000

Terracotta#E2725B

#FF0000Blended: #F1392E#E2725B

Red vs Terracotta: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Red Terracotta

BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=62%) — airy, soft, approachable

SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=70%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyRedRed

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#FF0000#E2725B

RGB255, 0, 0226, 114, 91

Can you use Red and Terracotta together?

Terracotta text on Red

Red text on Terracotta

Contrast Ratio:1.29:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Red and Terracotta Apart

●Look at lightness first: Terracotta is noticeably lighter.
●Check saturation: Red looks more vivid and saturated.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 10° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Red vs Terracotta in Design

Use Red for:

●Alerts, errors, stop states

●Sale & promotion banners

●Food and beverage packaging

●Sports and energy branding

●Romantic & bold fashion

Use Terracotta for:

●Alerts, errors, stop states

●Sale & promotion banners

●Food and beverage packaging

●Sports and energy branding

●Romantic & bold fashion

Red and Terracotta 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

Terracotta#E2725B

Terracotta (#E2725B) is a light, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Red and Terracotta 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

Terracotta text on white

3.09:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Terracotta text on black

6.79:1AA

Sample text preview

Red text on Terracotta

1.29:1Fail

Sample text preview

Terracotta text on Red

1.29:1Fail

Explore Red and Terracotta individually

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

Red color page#FF0000 · shades, tints, pairings Terracotta color page#E2725B · shades, tints, pairings

More Red and Terracotta Comparisons

Red vs Terracotta FAQ

What is the difference between red and terracotta?+

The main difference between Red and Terracotta is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Terracotta is lighter and Red is more saturated. Red (#FF0000) has an HSL of 0°, 100%, 50%, whereas Terracotta (#E2725B) sits at 10°, 70%, 62%.

Is red darker than terracotta?+

Yes. Red is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Terracotta at 62% — a 12-point gap.

Are red and terracotta the same color?+

No. Red is #FF0000 and Terracotta is #E2725B. They differ by 10° in hue, 12% in lightness, and 30% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, red or terracotta?+

Red is more saturated. In HSL, Red has 100% saturation and Terracotta has 70% — Red is the more vivid of the two, while Terracotta 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 terracotta warm or cool?+

Terracotta (#E2725B) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 10° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use red and terracotta together?+

Yes. Both red and terracotta are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use red as the dominant color and terracotta 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 terracotta?+

The hex code for Terracotta is #E2725B. In RGB, that's rgb(226, 114, 91), and in HSL it's hsl(10, 70%, 62%).