#A52121 Hex Color
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#a52121 is a dark, saturated red with warm brick and terracotta undertones. Its strong, grounded character brings urgency, passion, and confidence to branding, calls to action, sports, and autumn palettes. Use it as a small accent against cream or charcoal rather than a full background. White text remains highly legible, with about 7.4:1 contrast. The hex code is #a52121.
Questions about #a52121
What is #a52121 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #a52121 is rgb(165, 33, 33), in HSL hsl(0, 67%, 39%) and in CMYK 0%, 80%, 80%, 35%. Browse more shades of red with names and hex codes.
What colors pair well with #a52121?
#a52121 pairs well with cream, charcoal, and muted terracotta, which soften its saturated warmth while preserving its grounded brick-red character. Use it as an accent beside pale neutrals, or balance it with restrained blue-green tones.
Is #a52121 a warm or cool red?
#a52121 reads as a warm red because its red base is softened by brick and terracotta undertones, giving it a grounded, earthy feel rather than the crisp, blue-leaning look of a cool crimson. It suits autumn palettes and warm neutral backgrounds especially well.
Where does #a52121 work best in design?
#a52121 works best as a focused accent for calls to action, sports graphics, badges, and autumn-inspired branding, where its saturated brick-red tone adds urgency and confidence without overwhelming the layout. Use it sparingly on large surfaces, especially when a calmer background is needed.
Is #a52121 readable on white or black?
#a52121 has a 7.39:1 contrast ratio on white and 2.83:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.