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Ruby vs Wine: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Ruby and Wine is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Ruby is more saturated. Ruby and Wine are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Ruby (#9B111E) and Wine (#722F37) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Ruby#9B111E
Wine#722F37
#9B111EBlended: #87202B#722F37
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Ruby vs Wine: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Ruby Wine
BrightnessDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=32%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=80%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingModerately saturated (S=42%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#9B111E#722F37
RGB155, 17, 30114, 47, 55

Can you use Ruby and Wine together?

Wine text on Ruby
Ruby text on Wine
Contrast Ratio:1.14:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Ruby and Wine Apart

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

Ruby or Wine: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickRuby

Ruby is more saturated (80% HSL vs 42%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Wine can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickWine

Wine hits a 9.65:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Ruby only reaches 8.42:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickRuby

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickWine

Wine is the more muted of the two (42% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Ruby's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Ruby vs Wine in Design

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

Ruby and Wine Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Ruby#9B111E

Ruby (#9B111E) 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
Wine#722F37

Wine (#722F37) is a dark, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Ruby and Wine 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
Ruby text on white
8.42:1AAA
Sample text preview
Ruby text on black
2.49:1Fail
Sample text preview
Wine text on white
9.65:1AAA
Sample text preview
Wine text on black
2.18:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ruby text on Wine
1.14:1Fail
Sample text preview
Wine text on Ruby
1.14:1Fail

Explore Ruby and Wine individually

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

Ruby color page#9B111E · shades, tints, pairingsWine color page#722F37 · shades, tints, pairings

More Ruby and Wine Comparisons

RedvsRubyRedvsWineRubyvsGreyRustvsWineRubyvsBrickWinevsGreyBrownvsRubyBrickvsWineRubyvsGarnetBrownvsWineTomatovsRubyMaroonvsWine

Ruby vs Wine FAQ

What is the difference between ruby and wine?+
The main difference between Ruby and Wine is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Ruby is more saturated. Ruby and Wine are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Ruby (#9B111E) and Wine (#722F37) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is ruby darker than wine?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Ruby sits at 34% lightness and Wine at 32% — the difference is only 2 percentage points.
Are ruby and wine the same color?+
No. Ruby is #9B111E and Wine is #722F37. They differ by 1° in hue, 2% in lightness, and 38% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, ruby or wine?+
Ruby is more saturated. In HSL, Ruby has 80% saturation and Wine has 42% — Ruby is the more vivid of the two, while Wine reads as more muted.
Is ruby warm or cool?+
Ruby (#9B111E) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 354° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is wine warm or cool?+
Wine (#722F37) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 353° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use ruby and wine together?+
Yes. Both ruby and wine are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use wine as the dominant color and ruby as the accent or highlight.
What color family does ruby belong to?+
Ruby belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 354°, 80%, 34% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for ruby?+
The hex code for Ruby is #9B111E. In RGB, that's rgb(155, 17, 30), and in HSL it's hsl(354, 80%, 34%).
What is the hex code for wine?+
The hex code for Wine is #722F37. In RGB, that's rgb(114, 47, 55), and in HSL it's hsl(353, 42%, 32%).