Red color · XKCD survey name
Dusty Red Color Code: #B9484E
The HEX code for Dusty Red is #B9484E. It is a medium, soft red color made of 185 red, 72 green and 78 blue (HSL 357°, 45%, 50%). White text reads comfortably on it (5.12:1 contrast).
Dusty Red color values
#B9484E
rgb(185, 72, 78)
hsl(357, 45%, 50%)
357, 61%, 73%
hwb(357 28% 27%)
0%, 61%, 58%, 27%
12142670
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Dusty Red?
“Dusty Red” is a crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey, in which participants typed names for colors they were shown. It is a popular everyday label rather than an official standard.
Its hue angle of 357° places it in the red part of the color wheel, with 45% saturation (soft) and 50% lightness (medium). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other red colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 60% of them and more saturated than 2% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.155, which makes it a mid-tone color. That is below the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so white text has the advantage.
Dusty Red counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.155. White text reads comfortably on it (5.12:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Dusty Red
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 5.12:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 4.09:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | 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 Dusty 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 Dusty 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 Dusty Red
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (5.12:1 contrast)
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Food, sport and event branding
- Poster and packaging accents
- Error and alert states (paired with an icon or label, never color alone)
- Sale banners and urgent call-to-action buttons
Use Dusty Red in CSS
:root {
--color-dusty-red: #B9484E;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-dusty-red);
background-color: #B9484E;
border: 2px solid #B9484E;
}Questions about Dusty Red
What is the HEX code for Dusty Red?
Dusty Red is #B9484E.
What is the RGB value of Dusty Red?
The RGB value of Dusty Red is 185, 72, 78: 185 red, 72 green and 78 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(185, 72, 78) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Dusty Red?
The HSL value of Dusty Red is 357°, 45%, 50% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(357, 45%, 50%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Dusty Red?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 61%, Y 58%, K 27%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Dusty Red a light or dark color?
Dusty Red counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.155. White text reads comfortably on it (5.12:1 contrast).
How does Dusty Red look with white text?
White text on Dusty Red has a contrast ratio of 5.12:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Dusty Red look with black text?
Black text on Dusty Red has a contrast ratio of 4.09:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Dusty Red?
Light Sea Green is its complementary color, and Pale Magenta sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Dusty Red be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (5.12:1 contrast); large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough; food, sport and event branding.
How do I use Dusty Red in CSS?
Use color: #B9484E; for text, background-color: #B9484E; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-dusty-red: #B9484E; and reuse it with var(--color-dusty-red).
About this color page
Crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey (CC0). 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.