Crimson vs Scarlet
Can you tell them apart?
#DC143C
#FF2400
Perceptual difference (ΔE): 35.3 — clearly different.
Crimson and scarlet are both vivid reds with heroic connotations — crimson in university crests and scarlet in military coats — but they differ in undertone and temperature. Crimson leans toward blue-purple, which gives it depth and a slightly cool, jewel-like quality, closer to the colour of blood. Scarlet leans toward orange, making it hotter, more aggressive, and more immediately attention-grabbing — fire engine territory. In heraldry both were historically labelled 'the brightest red', but chemically and visually they're distinct poles of the red spectrum.
How to tell them apart
Scarlet is the hotter, more orange-red; crimson is the cooler, more purple-red. If it looks like the tip of a flame or a red alarm, it's scarlet; if it looks like blood, a ruby, or a velvet curtain, it's crimson.
Color values
| HEX | #DC143C |
|---|---|
| RGB | 220, 20, 60 |
| HSL | 348°, 83%, 47% |
| CMYK | 0, 91, 73, 14 |
| HEX | #FF2400 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 255, 36, 0 |
| HSL | 8°, 100%, 50% |
| CMYK | 0, 86, 100, 0 |
FAQ
- Is crimson darker than scarlet?
- Slightly, and also cooler. Scarlet is brighter with an orange lean; crimson has blue in it making it deeper and more jewel-like.
- Which is more orange, crimson or scarlet?
- Scarlet. It tips toward orange-red, while crimson tips toward purple-red.