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Tomato vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tomato and Grey is hue — Tomato is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Tomato#FF6347
Grey#808080
#FF6347Blended: #C07264#808080

Tomato vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tomato Grey
BrightnessLight (L=64%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyRedGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#FF6347#808080
RGB255, 99, 71128, 128, 128

Can you use Tomato and Grey together?

Grey text on Tomato
Tomato text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:1.34:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tomato and Grey Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Tomato is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Tomato 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 Tomato vs Grey in Design

Use Tomato 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

Tomato and Grey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Tomato#FF6347

Tomato (#FF6347) 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
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

Tomato 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
Tomato text on white
2.95:1Fail
Sample text preview
Tomato text on black
7.13:1AAA
Sample text preview
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Tomato text on Grey
1.34:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Tomato
1.34:1Fail

Explore Tomato and Grey individually

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

Tomato color page#FF6347 · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Tomato and Grey Comparisons

RedvsTomatoRedvsGreyTomatovsRubyGrayvsGreyTomatovsWineRustvsGreyTomatovsRustWinevsGreyRubyvsGreyCoralvsTomatoTaupevsGreyTomatovsBrick

Tomato vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between tomato and grey?+
The main difference between Tomato and Grey is hue — Tomato is a warm red, while Grey is a neutral gray. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is tomato darker than grey?+
No. Grey is the darker of the two at 50% lightness, while Tomato sits higher at 64%.
Are tomato and grey the same color?+
No. Tomato is #FF6347 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 9° in hue, 14% in lightness, and 100% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, tomato or grey?+
Tomato is more saturated. In HSL, Tomato has 100% saturation and Grey has 0% — Tomato is the more vivid of the two, while Grey reads as more muted.
Is tomato warm or cool?+
Tomato (#FF6347) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 9° 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 tomato and grey together?+
Yes. Tomato (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 tomato belong to?+
Tomato belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 9°, 100%, 64% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for tomato?+
The hex code for Tomato is #FF6347. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 99, 71), and in HSL it's hsl(9, 100%, 64%).
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%).