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Terracotta vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Terracotta and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Terracotta is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Terracotta (#E2725B) has an HSL of 10°, 70%, 62%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Terracotta#E2725B
Scarlet#FF2400
#E2725BBlended: #F14B2E#FF2400

Terracotta vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Terracotta Scarlet
BrightnessLight (L=62%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=70%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#E2725B#FF2400
RGB226, 114, 91255, 36, 0

Can you use Terracotta and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Terracotta
Terracotta text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:1.23:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Terracotta and Scarlet Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Terracotta is noticeably lighter.
  • 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 Terracotta vs Scarlet in Design

Use Terracotta 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

Terracotta and Scarlet Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Terracotta#E2725B

Terracotta (#E2725B) 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
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

Terracotta 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
Terracotta text on white
3.09:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on black
6.79:1AA
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on Scarlet
1.23:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Terracotta
1.23:1Fail

Explore Terracotta and Scarlet individually

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

Terracotta color page#E2725B · shades, tints, pairingsScarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairings

More Terracotta and Scarlet Comparisons

Terracotta vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between terracotta and scarlet?+
The main difference between Terracotta and Scarlet is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Terracotta is lighter and Scarlet is more saturated. Terracotta (#E2725B) has an HSL of 10°, 70%, 62%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is terracotta darker than scarlet?+
No. Scarlet is the darker of the two at 50% lightness, while Terracotta sits higher at 62%.
Are terracotta and scarlet the same color?+
No. Terracotta is #E2725B and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 2° in hue, 12% in lightness, and 30% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, terracotta or scarlet?+
Scarlet is more saturated. In HSL, Terracotta has 70% saturation and Scarlet has 100% — Scarlet is the more vivid of the two, while Terracotta reads as more muted.
Is terracotta warm or cool?+
Terracotta (#E2725B) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 10° 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 terracotta and scarlet together?+
Yes. Both terracotta and scarlet are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use scarlet as the dominant color and terracotta as the accent or highlight.
What color family does terracotta belong to?+
Terracotta belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 10°, 70%, 62% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for terracotta?+
The hex code for Terracotta is #E2725B. In RGB, that's rgb(226, 114, 91), and in HSL it's hsl(10, 70%, 62%).
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%).