Tartan Red
Also known as: Cross My Heart, Madder Red, Baton Rouge, Fabulous Red
Quietly bold and energetic, Tartan Red is a warm-toned red that earns its keep in sale banners and sportswear. Because it leans warm, balancing it with a cyan keeps a palette from feeling one-note. On white it reads clearly at 6.55:1 contrast — safe for body text under WCAG AA.
Tartan Red color codes
- HEX
- #B1282A
- RGB
- rgb(177, 40, 42)
- RGBA
- rgba(177, 40, 42, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(359, 63%, 43%)
- HSV
- hsv(359, 77%, 69%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 77%, 76%, 31%)
- LAB
- lab(40.3 54.8 35.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(50.1% 0.173 25.5)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
warm
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: firebrick#B22222 · ΔE 1.7
- RAL 3000 — Flame red#AB2524 · ΔE 1.7 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck — Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Tartan Red works
- Web & UI: Dark enough for body text and icons on white backgrounds — it passes WCAG AA as-is.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece — a top, scarf, or shoes — against neutral basics.
- Branding: High-energy brand material: strong for food, fitness, and youth-facing marks — use sparingly in UI.
- Web & UI: Best as a button fill, badge, or accent — pair it with white text only at large sizes, and check contrast.
- Branding: A secondary brand color by nature: it supports a stronger primary and shines in illustration.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Tartan Red
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Tartan Red by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 6.55:1
AA passAAA failAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 3.21:1
AA failAAA failAA large pass
Best text color on a Tartan Red background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Tartan Red
Tartan Red with its complement
Soft neighbors of Tartan Red
Tartan Red triad
Similar colors
- Toadstool#B8282F · ΔE 1.7
- Samba#AA262B · ΔE 1.8
- Red Carpet#BC2026 · ΔE 2.2
- Blood Rush#AA2222 · ΔE 2.2
- Desirable#A93435 · ΔE 2.9
- Hot Jazz#BC3033 · ΔE 3.0
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Tartan Red is closest to Prismarine.
Tartan Red FAQs
What color is Tartan Red?
Tartan Red is a medium red with the hex code #B1282A. In HSL terms it has a hue of 359°, 63% saturation, and 43% lightness.
What is the hex code for Tartan Red?
The hex code for Tartan Red is #B1282A. In RGB it's rgb(177, 40, 42), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 77%, 76%, 31%).
What colors go well with Tartan Red?
Tartan Red pairs naturally with cyan tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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