Netflix Red Color Psychology & Meaning
Netflix red on black creates cinematic tension. The palette borrows from classic movie poster design — high contrast, immediate drama, no hesitation.
#141414
#E50914
#FFFFFF
#808080
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Netflix Red Color Palette
#141414 · #E50914 · #FFFFFF · #808080
AA
WCAG Grade
4.7:1
Contrast Ratio
4,700
Saves
11,800
AI Copies
Use #141414 as the background. Use #E50914 as the primary accent. Use #FFFFFF as secondary. Use #808080 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Netflix Red — night, bold, warm.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Netflix Red color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 0.7% | 20, 20, 20 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 92% | 0°, 0%, 8% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 16.9% | 229, 9, 20 | 0%, 96%, 91%, 10% | 357°, 92%, 47% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 100.0% | 255, 255, 255 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 0% | 0°, 0%, 100% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 21.6% | 128, 128, 128 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 50% | 0°, 0%, 50% |
Netflix Red Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Netflix Red palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#141414 neutral gray
#E50914 saturated rose-red
#FFFFFF neutral gray
#808080 neutral gray
Netflix Red Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #FFFFFF on #141414 |
Aa Sample Text
| 18.42:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #141414 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 18.42:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #FFFFFF on #E50914 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.79:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #E50914 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.79:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #808080 on #141414 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.66:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #141414 on #808080 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.66:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #808080 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.95:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #FFFFFF on #808080 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.95:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E50914 on #141414 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.84:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #141414 on #E50914 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.84:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #808080 on #E50914 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E50914 on #808080 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Netflix Red palette is built using a triadic relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A triadic palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
Netflix has used this palette since 2014 redesign. The specific red (#E50914) tested highest for urgency and premium feel in user studies.
Best Design Use Cases
Almost-black backgrounds for all viewing surfaces. Red for brand moments and hero CTAs only. Never dilute the red with other accent colors.
Industries This Palette Suits
Streaming, entertainment, subscription services, media.
Colors That Pair Well With Netflix Red
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
teal
directly opposite #E50914 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #E50914 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Netflix Red Without Breaking Accessibility
- Use #E50914 for buttons and links — it scores 3.8:1 against the #141414 background (above the 3:1 UI-components threshold).
- Set body text in #808080 — 4.7:1 against #141414 passes WCAG AA (AA) for long-form reading.
- Don't use #FFFFFF behind body text — this light tone works better for surfaces, badges and dividers than for reading areas.
How to Implement the Netflix Red Color Scheme
To use this Netflix Red color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #141414 for the main background and #E50914 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #808080 and #141414 is 4.66:1 (AA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Netflix Red Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Netflix Red color palette?
The Netflix Red palette contains #141414, #E50914, #FFFFFF, #808080. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Netflix Red color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #FFFFFF on #141414 reaches 18.4:1 (AAA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Netflix Red palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #0AE6DB, #DA6E16, #EEECEC extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Netflix Red palette create?
Netflix Red reads as night, bold, warm. Saturated rose-red drives the personality, grounded by neutral gray — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Netflix Red color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Netflix Red palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Netflix Red palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Netflix Red's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.