Red color · XKCD survey name
Pastel Red Color Code: #DB5856
Pastel Red (#DB5856) is a medium, rich red shade: RGB 219, 88, 86, HSL 1°, 65%, 60%. Black text reads best on it (5.54:1 contrast).
Pastel Red color values
#DB5856
rgb(219, 88, 86)
hsl(1, 65%, 60%)
1, 61%, 86%
hwb(1 34% 14%)
0%, 60%, 61%, 14%
14374998
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Pastel Red?
“Pastel 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 1° places it in the red part of the color wheel, with 65% saturation (rich) and 60% lightness (medium). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other red colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 83% of them and more saturated than 15% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.227, which makes it a mid-tone color. That is above the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so black text has the advantage.
Pastel Red counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 60% and its relative luminance is 0.227. Black text reads best on it (5.54:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Pastel Red
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 3.78:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.54:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Pastel 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 Pastel 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 Pastel Red
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.54:1 contrast with black)
- 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 Pastel Red in CSS
:root {
--color-pastel-red: #DB5856;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-pastel-red);
background-color: #DB5856;
border: 2px solid #DB5856;
}Questions about Pastel Red
What is the HEX code for Pastel Red?
Pastel Red is #DB5856.
What is the RGB value of Pastel Red?
The RGB value of Pastel Red is 219, 88, 86: 219 red, 88 green and 86 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(219, 88, 86) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Pastel Red?
The HSL value of Pastel Red is 1°, 65%, 60% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(1, 65%, 60%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Pastel Red?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 60%, Y 61%, K 14%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Pastel Red a light or dark color?
Pastel Red counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 60% and its relative luminance is 0.227. Black text reads best on it (5.54:1 contrast).
How does Pastel Red look with white text?
White text on Pastel Red has a contrast ratio of 3.78:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Pastel Red look with black text?
Black text on Pastel Red has a contrast ratio of 5.54:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Pastel Red?
Medium Turquoise is its complementary color, and Medium Pink sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Pastel Red be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.54:1 contrast with black); large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough; food, sport and event branding.
How do I use Pastel Red in CSS?
Use color: #DB5856; for text, background-color: #DB5856; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-pastel-red: #DB5856; and reuse it with var(--color-pastel-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.