Red color · XKCD survey name
Scarlet Color Code: #BE0119
Scarlet is a medium-dark, vivid red color with the hexadecimal value #BE0119. In RGB it is 190, 1, 25 and in HSL it is 352°, 99%, 37%. White text reads comfortably on it (6.54:1 contrast).
Scarlet color values
#BE0119
rgb(190, 1, 25)
hsl(352, 99%, 37%)
352, 99%, 75%
hwb(352 0% 25%)
0%, 99%, 87%, 25%
12452121
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Scarlet?
“Scarlet” 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 352° places it in the red part of the color wheel, with 99% saturation (vivid) and 37% lightness (medium-dark). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other red colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 38% of them and more saturated than 60% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.110, 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.
Scarlet counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 37% and its relative luminance is 0.110. White text reads comfortably on it (6.54:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Scarlet
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 6.54:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 3.20:1 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 Scarlet
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 Scarlet
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 Scarlet
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.54:1 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
- Food, sport and event branding
- Poster and packaging accents
- Error and alert states (paired with an icon or label, never color alone)
Use Scarlet in CSS
:root {
--color-scarlet: #BE0119;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-scarlet);
background-color: #BE0119;
border: 2px solid #BE0119;
}Questions about Scarlet
What is the HEX code for Scarlet?
Scarlet is #BE0119.
What is the RGB value of Scarlet?
The RGB value of Scarlet is 190, 1, 25: 190 red, 1 green and 25 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(190, 1, 25) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Scarlet?
The HSL value of Scarlet is 352°, 99%, 37% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(352, 99%, 37%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Scarlet?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 99%, Y 87%, K 25%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Scarlet a light or dark color?
Scarlet counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 37% and its relative luminance is 0.110. White text reads comfortably on it (6.54:1 contrast).
How does Scarlet look with white text?
White text on Scarlet has a contrast ratio of 6.54:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Scarlet look with black text?
Black text on Scarlet has a contrast ratio of 3.20:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Scarlet?
Topaz is its complementary color, and Medium Violet Red sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Scarlet be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.54:1 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 Scarlet in CSS?
Use color: #BE0119; for text, background-color: #BE0119; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-scarlet: #BE0119; and reuse it with var(--color-scarlet).
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.