Red color · XKCD survey name

Vermillion Color Code: #F4320C

The HEX code for Vermillion is #F4320C. It is a medium, vivid red color made of 244 red, 50 green and 12 blue (HSL 10°, 91%, 50%). Black text reads best on it (5.30:1 contrast).

Vermillion color values

HEX #F4320C
RGB rgb(244, 50, 12)
HSL hsl(10, 91%, 50%)
HSV 10, 95%, 96%
HWB hwb(10 5% 4%)
CMYK 0%, 80%, 95%, 4%
Decimal 16003596
50%HSL lightness (medium)
91%HSL saturation (vivid)
10°Hue angle (red)
0.215Relative luminance

CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.

What is Vermillion?

“Vermillion” 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 10° places it in the red part of the color wheel, with 91% saturation (vivid) 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 31% of them.

Its relative luminance is 0.215, 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.

Vermillion counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.215. Black text reads best on it (5.30:1 contrast).

Text contrast on Vermillion

WCAG contrast of white and black text on Vermillion
TextPreviewRatioAA normalAA largeAAA normalAAA large
White text Sample text 3.95:1 Limited Fail Pass Fail Fail
Black text Sample text 5.30:1 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 Vermillion

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.

#6C1605#6C1605
#B12408#B12408
#F4320C#F4320C
#F76C50#F76C50
#FAA595#FAA595

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 Vermillion

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.

Where to use Vermillion

  • Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.30:1 contrast with black)
  • 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 Vermillion in CSS

:root {
  --color-vermillion: #F4320C;
}

.element {
  color: var(--color-vermillion);
  background-color: #F4320C;
  border: 2px solid #F4320C;
}

Questions about Vermillion

What is the HEX code for Vermillion?

Vermillion is #F4320C.

What is the RGB value of Vermillion?

The RGB value of Vermillion is 244, 50, 12: 244 red, 50 green and 12 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(244, 50, 12) in CSS.

What is the HSL value of Vermillion?

The HSL value of Vermillion is 10°, 91%, 50% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(10, 91%, 50%) in CSS.

What is the CMYK value of Vermillion?

A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 80%, Y 95%, K 4%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.

Is Vermillion a light or dark color?

Vermillion counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 50% and its relative luminance is 0.215. Black text reads best on it (5.30:1 contrast).

How does Vermillion look with white text?

White text on Vermillion has a contrast ratio of 3.95:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.

How does Vermillion look with black text?

Black text on Vermillion has a contrast ratio of 5.30:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.

What colors go well with Vermillion?

Neon Blue is its complementary color, and Pink Red sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.

Where can Vermillion be used?

It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.30:1 contrast with black); 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 Vermillion in CSS?

Use color: #F4320C; for text, background-color: #F4320C; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-vermillion: #F4320C; and reuse it with var(--color-vermillion).

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.