Pinterest Color Psychology & Meaning
Pinterest red is discovery energy — the excitement of finding something you didn't know you were looking for. It's warm enough to feel personal, bold enough to command attention.
#FFFFFF
#E60023
#111111
#767676
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Pinterest Color Palette
#FFFFFF · #E60023 · #111111 · #767676
AA
WCAG Grade
4.5:1
Contrast Ratio
3,100
Saves
8,100
AI Copies
Use #FFFFFF as the background. Use #E60023 as the primary accent. Use #111111 as secondary. Use #767676 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Pinterest — bold, warm, minimal.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Pinterest 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: 100.0% | 255, 255, 255 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 0% | 0°, 0%, 100% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 16.9% | 230, 0, 35 | 0%, 100%, 85%, 10% | 351°, 100%, 45% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 0.6% | 17, 17, 17 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 93% | 0°, 0%, 7% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 18.1% | 118, 118, 118 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 54% | 0°, 0%, 46% |
Pinterest 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 Pinterest palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#FFFFFF neutral gray
#E60023 saturated rose-red
#111111 neutral gray
#767676 neutral gray
Pinterest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #111111 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 18.88:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #FFFFFF on #111111 |
Aa Sample Text
| 18.88:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #E60023 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.78:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #FFFFFF on #E60023 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.78:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #767676 on #FFFFFF |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.54:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #FFFFFF on #767676 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.54:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #767676 on #111111 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.16:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #111111 on #767676 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.16:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #111111 on #E60023 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.95:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E60023 on #111111 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.95:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #767676 on #E60023 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.05:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E60023 on #767676 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.05:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Pinterest 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
Pinterest launched 2010. The red was chosen to signal passion and inspiration — the core emotional proposition of the platform.
Best Design Use Cases
Red for pins, save buttons, and primary brand moments. White for the endless scroll surface. Dark for text.
Industries This Palette Suits
Social media, inspiration, e-commerce, lifestyle.
Colors That Pair Well With Pinterest
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 #E60023 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #E60023 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a ink-black carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Pinterest Without Breaking Accessibility
- Use #E60023 for buttons and links — it scores 4.8:1 against the #FFFFFF background (above the 3:1 UI-components threshold).
- Set body text in #767676 — 4.5:1 against #FFFFFF passes WCAG AA (AA) for long-form reading.
- Let #111111 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a deep lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #E60023.
How to Implement the Pinterest Color Scheme
To use this Pinterest 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 #FFFFFF for the main background and #E60023 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #767676 and #FFFFFF is 4.54:1 (AA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Pinterest Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Pinterest color palette?
The Pinterest palette contains #FFFFFF, #E60023, #111111, #767676. 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 Pinterest color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #111111 on #FFFFFF reaches 18.9:1 (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 Pinterest palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #00E6C3, #DA540B, #151414 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 Pinterest palette create?
Pinterest reads as bold, warm, minimal. Saturated rose-red drives the personality, grounded by neutral gray — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Pinterest color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Pinterest 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 Pinterest 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 Pinterest's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.