Red color · XKCD survey name
Rust Red Color Code: #AA2704
Rust Red (#AA2704) is a medium-dark, vivid red shade: RGB 170, 39, 4, HSL 13°, 95%, 34%. White text reads comfortably on it (6.99:1 contrast).
Rust Red color values
#AA2704
rgb(170, 39, 4)
hsl(13, 95%, 34%)
13, 98%, 67%
hwb(13 2% 33%)
0%, 77%, 98%, 33%
11151108
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Rust Red?
“Rust 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 13° places it in the red part of the color wheel, with 95% saturation (vivid) and 34% lightness (medium-dark). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other red colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 37% of them and more saturated than 38% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.100, 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.
Rust Red counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 34% and its relative luminance is 0.100. White text reads comfortably on it (6.99:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Rust Red
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 6.99:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 3.00:1 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 Rust 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 Rust 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 Rust Red
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.99:1 contrast)
- Accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Error and alert states (paired with an icon or label, never color alone)
- Sale banners and urgent call-to-action buttons
- Food, sport and event branding
Use Rust Red in CSS
:root {
--color-rust-red: #AA2704;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-rust-red);
background-color: #AA2704;
border: 2px solid #AA2704;
}Questions about Rust Red
What is the HEX code for Rust Red?
Rust Red is #AA2704.
What is the RGB value of Rust Red?
The RGB value of Rust Red is 170, 39, 4: 170 red, 39 green and 4 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(170, 39, 4) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Rust Red?
The HSL value of Rust Red is 13°, 95%, 34% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(13, 95%, 34%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Rust Red?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 77%, Y 98%, K 33%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Rust Red a light or dark color?
Rust Red counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 34% and its relative luminance is 0.100. White text reads comfortably on it (6.99:1 contrast).
How does Rust Red look with white text?
White text on Rust Red has a contrast ratio of 6.99:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Rust Red look with black text?
Black text on Rust Red has a contrast ratio of 3.00:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Rust Red?
Sea Blue is its complementary color, and Rouge sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Rust Red be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.99:1 contrast); accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations; large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough.
How do I use Rust Red in CSS?
Use color: #AA2704; for text, background-color: #AA2704; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-rust-red: #AA2704; and reuse it with var(--color-rust-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.