The main difference between Ruby and Maroon is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Ruby is lighter and Maroon is more saturated. Ruby and Maroon are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Ruby (#9B111E) and Maroon (#800000) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.
Maroon is more saturated (100% HSL vs 80%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Ruby can feel washed out when printed small.
Maroon hits a 10.95:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Ruby only reaches 8.42:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Ruby 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.
Ruby is the more muted of the two (80% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Maroon's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Ruby (#9B111E) is a dark, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Maroon (#800000) is a dark, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
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.
Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.