#EF4444 Hex Color
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#ef4444 is an aggressive, high-chroma red that commands attention immediately. Because of its extreme intensity, it works best as a 10% accent color rather than a primary background. It pairs exceptionally well with slate grays or deep charcoal to ground its natural energy. With a 5.6:1 contrast ratio against black, this hex code remains legible for UI elements and bold calls to action.
Questions about #ef4444
What is #ef4444 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #ef4444 is rgb(239, 68, 68), in HSL hsl(0, 84%, 60%) and in CMYK 0%, 72%, 72%, 6%.
How should #ef4444 be used in UI design?
Because of its extreme intensity, #ef4444 works best as a 10% accent color for calls to action rather than a primary background. It maintains a 5.6:1 contrast ratio against black, making it highly legible for critical buttons and alert states.
What colors pair well with #ef4444?
This aggressive red needs neutral grounding to balance its energy. It pairs exceptionally well with charcoal or slate grays to anchor the vibrancy, while soft whites help keep the composition clean rather than overwhelming the viewer.
Is #ef4444 readable on white or black?
#ef4444 has a 3.76:1 contrast ratio on white and 5.58:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold) and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.