Rust vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Rust and Scarlet is hue — Rust is a warm orange, while Scarlet is a warm red. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Rust#B7410E

Scarlet#FF2400

#B7410EBlended: #DB3307#FF2400

Rust vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Rust Scarlet

BrightnessDark (L=39%) — rich, serious, substantialMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationVivid (S=86%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOrangeRed

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#B7410E#FF2400

RGB183, 65, 14255, 36, 0

Can you use Rust and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Rust

Rust text on Scarlet

Contrast Ratio:1.46:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Rust and Scarlet Apart

●Look at lightness first: Scarlet is noticeably lighter.
●Check saturation: Scarlet 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 Rust vs Scarlet in Design

Use Rust for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Use Scarlet for:

●Alerts, errors, stop states

●Sale & promotion banners

●Food and beverage packaging

●Sports and energy branding

●Romantic & bold fashion

Rust and Scarlet Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Rust#B7410E

Rust (#B7410E) is a dark, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

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Tints

Scarlet#FF2400

Scarlet (#FF2400) is a medium, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

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Tints

Rust and Scarlet 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

Rust text on white

5.56:1AA

Sample text preview

Rust text on black

3.78:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Scarlet text on white

3.82:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Scarlet text on black

5.5:1AA

Sample text preview

Rust text on Scarlet

1.46:1Fail

Sample text preview

Scarlet text on Rust

1.46:1Fail

Explore Rust and Scarlet individually

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

Rust color page#B7410E · shades, tints, pairings Scarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairings

More Rust and Scarlet Comparisons

Rust vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between rust and scarlet?+

The main difference between Rust and Scarlet is hue — Rust is a warm orange, while Scarlet is a warm red. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Is rust darker than scarlet?+

Yes. Rust is darker, with a lightness of 39% in HSL compared to Scarlet at 50% — a 11-point gap.

Are rust and scarlet the same color?+

No. Rust is #B7410E and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 10° in hue, 11% in lightness, and 14% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, rust or scarlet?+

Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Rust has 86% saturation and Scarlet has 100% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Rust reads as more muted.

Is rust warm or cool?+

Rust (#B7410E) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 18° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Is scarlet warm or cool?+

Scarlet (#FF2400) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 8° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use rust and scarlet together?+

Yes. Rust (orange) and Scarlet (red) 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 rust belong to?+

Rust belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 18°, 86%, 39% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.

What is the hex code for rust?+

The hex code for Rust is #B7410E. In RGB, that's rgb(183, 65, 14), and in HSL it's hsl(18, 86%, 39%).

What is the hex code for scarlet?+

The hex code for Scarlet is #FF2400. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 36, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(8, 100%, 50%).