Red color · XKCD survey name
Watermelon Color Code: #FD4659
Watermelon is a medium-light, vivid red color with the hexadecimal value #FD4659. In RGB it is 253, 70, 89 and in HSL it is 354°, 98%, 63%. Black text reads best on it (6.19:1 contrast).
Watermelon color values
#FD4659
rgb(253, 70, 89)
hsl(354, 98%, 63%)
354, 72%, 99%
hwb(354 27% 1%)
0%, 72%, 65%, 1%
16598617
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Watermelon?
“Watermelon” 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 354° places it in the red part of the color wheel, with 98% saturation (vivid) and 63% lightness (medium-light). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other red colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 87% of them and more saturated than 52% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.260, 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.
Watermelon counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 63% and its relative luminance is 0.260. Black text reads best on it (6.19:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Watermelon
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 3.38:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 6.19:1 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 Watermelon
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 Watermelon
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 Watermelon
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (6.19:1 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
- 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 Watermelon in CSS
:root {
--color-watermelon: #FD4659;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-watermelon);
background-color: #FD4659;
border: 2px solid #FD4659;
}Questions about Watermelon
What is the HEX code for Watermelon?
Watermelon is #FD4659.
What is the RGB value of Watermelon?
The RGB value of Watermelon is 253, 70, 89: 253 red, 70 green and 89 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(253, 70, 89) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Watermelon?
The HSL value of Watermelon is 354°, 98%, 63% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(354, 98%, 63%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Watermelon?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 72%, Y 65%, K 1%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Watermelon a light or dark color?
Watermelon counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 63% and its relative luminance is 0.260. Black text reads best on it (6.19:1 contrast).
How does Watermelon look with white text?
White text on Watermelon has a contrast ratio of 3.38:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Watermelon look with black text?
Black text on Watermelon has a contrast ratio of 6.19:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Watermelon?
Bright Aqua is its complementary color, and Shocking Pink sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Watermelon be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (6.19:1 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 Watermelon in CSS?
Use color: #FD4659; for text, background-color: #FD4659; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-watermelon: #FD4659; and reuse it with var(--color-watermelon).
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.