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Salmon vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Salmon and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Salmon is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Salmon (#FA8072) has an HSL of 6°, 93%, 71%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Salmon#FA8072
Scarlet#FF2400
#FA8072Blended: #FD5239#FF2400
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Salmon vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Salmon Scarlet
BrightnessLight (L=71%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=93%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FA8072#FF2400
RGB250, 128, 114255, 36, 0

Can you use Salmon and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Salmon
Salmon text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:1.53:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Salmon and Scarlet Apart

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

Salmon or Scarlet: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickScarlet

Scarlet is more saturated (100% HSL vs 93%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Salmon can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickScarlet

Scarlet hits a 3.82:1 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 Scarlet leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickSalmon

Salmon is the more muted of the two (93% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Scarlet's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Salmon vs Scarlet in Design

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

Salmon and Scarlet 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
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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
Shades
Tints

Salmon 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
Salmon text on white
2.5:1Fail
Sample text preview
Salmon text on black
8.4:1AAA
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Salmon text on Scarlet
1.53:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Salmon
1.53:1Fail

Explore Salmon and Scarlet individually

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

Salmon color page#FA8072 · shades, tints, pairingsScarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairings

More Salmon and Scarlet Comparisons

SalmonvsRoseRedvsScarletSalmonvsPinkScarletvsRubySalmonvsWineScarletvsWineSalmonvsCoralRustvsScarletCoralvsSalmonScarletvsGreyPeachvsSalmonGrayvsScarlet

Salmon vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between salmon and scarlet?+
The main difference between Salmon and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Salmon is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Salmon (#FA8072) has an HSL of 6°, 93%, 71%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is salmon darker than scarlet?+
No. Scarlet is the darker of the two at 50% lightness, while Salmon sits higher at 71%.
Are salmon and scarlet the same color?+
No. Salmon is #FA8072 and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 2° in hue, 21% in lightness, and 7% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, salmon or scarlet?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Salmon has 93% saturation and Scarlet has 100% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Salmon 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 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 salmon and scarlet together?+
Yes. Both salmon and scarlet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use scarlet 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 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%).