Home /Compare /Scarlet vs Greige

Scarlet vs Greige: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Scarlet and Greige is hue — Scarlet is a warm red, while Greige is a warm orange. Scarlet (#FF2400) has an HSL of 8°, 100%, 50%, whereas Greige (#B2A591) sits at 36°, 18%, 63%.

Scarlet#FF2400
Greige#B2A591
#FF2400Blended: #D96549#B2A591

Scarlet vs Greige: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Scarlet Greige
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=63%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=18%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyRedOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FF2400#B2A591
RGB255, 36, 0178, 165, 145

Can you use Scarlet and Greige together?

Greige text on Scarlet
Scarlet text on Greige
Contrast Ratio:1.58:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Scarlet and Greige Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Greige is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Scarlet looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 28° 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 Scarlet vs Greige in Design

Use Scarlet for:
Alerts, errors, stop states
Sale & promotion banners
Food and beverage packaging
Sports and energy branding
Romantic & bold fashion
Use Greige for:
Call-to-action buttons
Autumn and harvest themes
Food, citrus, warmth branding
Youthful energetic campaigns
Friendly notification badges

Scarlet and Greige Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

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
Greige#B2A591

Greige (#B2A591) is a light, muted orange with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Scarlet and Greige 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
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Greige text on white
2.42:1Fail
Sample text preview
Greige text on black
8.68:1AAA
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Greige
1.58:1Fail
Sample text preview
Greige text on Scarlet
1.58:1Fail

Explore Scarlet and Greige individually

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

Scarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairingsGreige color page#B2A591 · shades, tints, pairings

More Scarlet and Greige Comparisons

Scarlet vs Greige FAQ

What is the difference between scarlet and greige?+
The main difference between Scarlet and Greige is hue — Scarlet is a warm red, while Greige is a warm orange. Scarlet (#FF2400) has an HSL of 8°, 100%, 50%, whereas Greige (#B2A591) sits at 36°, 18%, 63%.
Is scarlet darker than greige?+
Yes. Scarlet is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Greige at 63% — a 13-point gap.
Are scarlet and greige the same color?+
No. Scarlet is #FF2400 and Greige is #B2A591. They differ by 28° in hue, 13% in lightness, and 82% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, scarlet or greige?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Scarlet has 100% saturation and Greige has 18% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Greige reads as more muted.
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.
Is greige warm or cool?+
Greige (#B2A591) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 36° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use scarlet and greige together?+
Yes. Scarlet (red) and Greige (orange) 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 scarlet belong to?+
Scarlet belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 8°, 100%, 50% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
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%).
What is the hex code for greige?+
The hex code for Greige is #B2A591. In RGB, that's rgb(178, 165, 145), and in HSL it's hsl(36, 18%, 63%).