Red color · CSS named color
Dark Red Color Code: #8B0000
Dark Red is a dark, vivid red color with the hexadecimal value #8B0000. In RGB it is 139, 0, 0 and in HSL it is 0°, 100%, 27%. White text reads comfortably on it (10.01:1 contrast).
Dark Red color values
#8B0000
rgb(139, 0, 0)
hsl(0, 100%, 27%)
0, 100%, 55%
hwb(0 0% 45%)
0%, 100%, 100%, 45%
9109504
darkred
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Dark Red?
Dark Red is one of the named colors defined by the CSS Color specifications (keyword “darkred”), so every modern browser understands it without a hex code.
Its hue angle of 0° places it in the red part of the color wheel, with 100% saturation (vivid) and 27% lightness (dark). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other red colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 21% of them and more saturated than 67% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.055, which makes it a dark color. That is below the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so white text has the advantage.
Dark Red counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 27% and its relative luminance is 0.055. White text reads comfortably on it (10.01:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Dark Red
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 10.01:1 Excellent | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 2.09:1 Poor | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Dark Red
Complementary color
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They give the strongest hue contrast, which suits calls to action and accents.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors are neighbors on the wheel, 30° either side of the base hue. They blend smoothly and are easy to combine in backgrounds, gradients and illustrations.
Triadic colors
A triadic scheme uses three hues spaced 120° apart. It is lively yet balanced, and works best when one color leads and the other two act as accents.
Split-complementary colors
Split-complementary keeps the base color and uses the two colors on either side of its complement (150° and 210°). The contrast is strong but gentler than a direct complement.
Tetradic colors
A tetradic (rectangle) scheme combines two complementary pairs at 0°, 60°, 180° and 240°. It offers variety but needs one dominant color to stay balanced.
Monochromatic variants
Monochromatic variants keep the same hue and saturation and only change lightness, which makes them dependable for UI scales and subtle layered designs.
A “≈” before a name means the exact harmony color has no named match, so the link goes to the closest named color.
Tints and shades of Dark Red
Lighter tints (mixed with white)
Darker shades (mixed with black)
Select any swatch to copy its HEX code. Build longer scales with the tints and shades tool.
Similar colors
Where to use Dark Red
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (10.01:1 contrast)
- Accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations
- Sale banners and urgent call-to-action buttons
- Food, sport and event branding
- Poster and packaging accents
- Error and alert states (paired with an icon or label, never color alone)
Dark Red appears in these curated palettes: Wine and Cream (Red Color Palettes), Wine Cellar (Dark Color Palettes), High Contrast Pairs (UI Color Palettes).
Use Dark Red in CSS
:root {
--color-dark-red: #8B0000;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-dark-red);
background-color: #8B0000;
border: 2px solid #8B0000;
}Questions about Dark Red
What is the HEX code for Dark Red?
Dark Red is #8B0000.
What is the RGB value of Dark Red?
The RGB value of Dark Red is 139, 0, 0: 139 red, 0 green and 0 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(139, 0, 0) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Dark Red?
The HSL value of Dark Red is 0°, 100%, 27% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(0, 100%, 27%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Dark Red?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 100%, Y 100%, K 45%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Dark Red a light or dark color?
Dark Red counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 27% and its relative luminance is 0.055. White text reads comfortably on it (10.01:1 contrast).
How does Dark Red look with white text?
White text on Dark Red has a contrast ratio of 10.01:1, rated Excellent. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Dark Red look with black text?
Black text on Dark Red has a contrast ratio of 2.09:1, rated Poor. It falls below the WCAG minimum for text.
What colors go well with Dark Red?
Dark Cyan is its complementary color, and Mulberry sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Dark Red be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (10.01:1 contrast); accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations; sale banners and urgent call-to-action buttons.
How do I use Dark Red in CSS?
Use color: #8B0000; for text, background-color: #8B0000; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-dark-red: #8B0000; and reuse it with var(--color-dark-red).
About this color page
CSS named color (W3C CSS Color Module). Values are calculated from the HEX code; color names are labels, not trademarks or standards unless stated. Screens render colors differently, so always check important colors on your own device. See the disclaimer.