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Salmon vs Garnet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Salmon and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Salmon is lighter and Salmon is more saturated. Salmon (#FA8072) has an HSL of 6°, 93%, 71%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.

Salmon#FA8072
Garnet#733635
#FA8072Blended: #B75B54#733635
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Salmon vs Garnet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Salmon Garnet
BrightnessLight (L=71%) — airy, soft, approachableDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=93%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=37%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FA8072#733635
RGB250, 128, 114115, 54, 53

Can you use Salmon and Garnet together?

Garnet text on Salmon
Salmon text on Garnet
Contrast Ratio:3.64:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Salmon and Garnet Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Salmon is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Salmon looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Salmon or Garnet: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickSalmon

Salmon is more saturated (93% HSL vs 37%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Garnet can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickGarnet

Garnet hits a 9.10:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Salmon only reaches 2.50:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickSalmon

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickGarnet

Garnet is the more muted of the two (37% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Salmon's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Salmon vs Garnet in Design

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

Salmon and Garnet Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Salmon#FA8072

Salmon (#FA8072) 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
Garnet#733635

Garnet (#733635) is a dark, muted red with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Salmon and Garnet 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
Salmon text on white
2.5:1Fail
Sample text preview
Salmon text on black
8.4:1AAA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on white
9.1:1AAA
Sample text preview
Garnet text on black
2.31:1Fail
Sample text preview
Salmon text on Garnet
3.64:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Garnet text on Salmon
3.64:1AA Large

Explore Salmon and Garnet individually

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

Salmon color page#FA8072 · shades, tints, pairingsGarnet color page#733635 · shades, tints, pairings

More Salmon and Garnet Comparisons

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Salmon vs Garnet FAQ

What is the difference between salmon and garnet?+
The main difference between Salmon and Garnet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Salmon is lighter and Salmon is more saturated. Salmon (#FA8072) has an HSL of 6°, 93%, 71%, whereas Garnet (#733635) sits at 1°, 37%, 33%.
Is salmon darker than garnet?+
No. Garnet is the darker of the two at 33% lightness, while Salmon sits higher at 71%.
Are salmon and garnet the same color?+
No. Salmon is #FA8072 and Garnet is #733635. They differ by 5° in hue, 38% in lightness, and 56% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, salmon or garnet?+
Salmon is more saturated. In HSL, Salmon has 93% saturation and Garnet has 37% — Salmon is the more vivid of the two, while Garnet reads as more muted.
Is salmon warm or cool?+
Salmon (#FA8072) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 6° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is garnet warm or cool?+
Garnet (#733635) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 1° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use salmon and garnet together?+
Yes. Both salmon and garnet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use garnet as the dominant color and salmon as the accent or highlight.
What color family does salmon belong to?+
Salmon belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 6°, 93%, 71% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for salmon?+
The hex code for Salmon is #FA8072. In RGB, that's rgb(250, 128, 114), and in HSL it's hsl(6, 93%, 71%).
What is the hex code for garnet?+
The hex code for Garnet is #733635. In RGB, that's rgb(115, 54, 53), and in HSL it's hsl(1, 37%, 33%).