#B22820 Hex Color

Online color picker to view shades, tints, color codes, and complementary colors

Hex color #b22820 graphic
This saturated, powerful red commands immediate attention. Because of its intensity, #b22820 works best as a 10% accent color for calls to action or error states rather than a dominant background. It pairs exceptionally well with cool, dark grays to ground its heat. White text maintains a strong 6.5:1 contrast ratio against the hex code #b22820, ensuring readability for small type.

Questions about #b22820

What is #b22820 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #b22820 is rgb(178, 40, 32), in HSL hsl(3, 70%, 41%) and in CMYK 0%, 78%, 82%, 30%.
Where should I use #b22820 in a design layout?
Use #b22820 as a selective accent color, occupying roughly 10% of your interface to command attention. It is highly effective for critical error states or primary action buttons but can easily overwhelm users if used for large backgrounds or body text.
What colors pair well with #b22820?
Pair #b22820 with cool, dark neutrals like charcoal to ground its extreme heat and balance the composition. Because this red is so saturated, low-contrast neutral pairings help prevent visual fatigue while keeping the overall design professional and readable.
Is #b22820 readable on white or black?
#b22820 has a 6.52:1 contrast ratio on white and 3.21:1 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 works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold). Try other pairs in the contrast checker.