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Scarlet vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Scarlet and Grey is hue — Scarlet is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Scarlet (#FF2400) has an HSL of 8°, 100%, 50%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Scarlet#FF2400
Grey#808080
#FF2400Blended: #C05240#808080

Scarlet vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Scarlet Grey
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyRedGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#FF2400#808080
RGB255, 36, 0128, 128, 128

Can you use Scarlet and Grey together?

Grey text on Scarlet
Scarlet text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:1.04:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Scarlet and Grey Apart

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

When to Use Scarlet vs Grey in Design

Use Scarlet for:
Alerts, errors, stop states
Sale & promotion banners
Food and beverage packaging
Sports and energy branding
Romantic & bold fashion
Use Grey for:
Backgrounds and UI chrome
Professional corporate design
Minimalist and modern brands
Text and secondary elements
Architectural neutrals

Scarlet and Grey 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
Grey#808080

Grey (#808080) is a medium, near-neutral gray with a neutral undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Scarlet and Grey 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
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Grey
1.04:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Scarlet
1.04:1Fail

Explore Scarlet and Grey individually

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

Scarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Scarlet and Grey Comparisons

Scarlet vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between scarlet and grey?+
The main difference between Scarlet and Grey is hue — Scarlet is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Scarlet (#FF2400) has an HSL of 8°, 100%, 50%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is scarlet darker than grey?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Scarlet sits at 50% lightness and Grey at 50% — the difference is only 0 percentage points.
Are scarlet and grey the same color?+
No. Scarlet is #FF2400 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 8° in hue, 0% in lightness, and 100% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, scarlet or grey?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Scarlet has 100% saturation and Grey has 0% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Grey 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 grey warm or cool?+
Grey (#808080) is a neutral gray. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the neutral range.
Can you use scarlet and grey together?+
Yes. Scarlet (red) and Grey (gray) 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 grey?+
The hex code for Grey is #808080. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 128, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 0%, 50%).