Ruby Red Color Psychology & Meaning
Ruby red is the color of the most expensive colored gemstone, a red with enough blue to feel deep rather than hot. The palette of blush to deep ruby reads as passion controlled by wealth.
#F5E8E8
#E8A8A0
#B02030
#4A0A10
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Ruby Red Color Palette
#F5E8E8 · #E8A8A0 · #B02030 · #4A0A10
AAA
WCAG Grade
13.1:1
Contrast Ratio
1,650
Saves
4,400
AI Copies
Use #F5E8E8 as the background. Use #E8A8A0 as the primary accent. Use #B02030 as secondary. Use #4A0A10 as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Ruby Red — rich, passionate, premium.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Ruby 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: 83.0% | 245, 232, 232 | 0%, 5%, 5%, 4% | 0°, 39%, 94% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 47.7% | 232, 168, 160 | 0%, 28%, 31%, 9% | 7°, 61%, 77% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 10.5% | 176, 32, 48 | 0%, 82%, 73%, 31% | 353°, 69%, 41% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 1.7% | 74, 10, 16 | 0%, 86%, 78%, 71% | 354°, 76%, 16% |
Ruby 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 Ruby Red palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#F5E8E8 gently saturated red
#E8A8A0 gently saturated red
#B02030 saturated rose-red
#4A0A10 saturated rose-red
Ruby 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4A0A10 on #F5E8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 13.11:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #F5E8E8 on #4A0A10 |
Aa Sample Text
| 13.11:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #4A0A10 on #E8A8A0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.85:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #E8A8A0 on #4A0A10 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.85:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #B02030 on #F5E8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.68:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #F5E8E8 on #B02030 |
Aa Sample Text
| 5.68:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #B02030 on #E8A8A0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.41:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #E8A8A0 on #B02030 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.41:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #4A0A10 on #B02030 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.31:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #B02030 on #4A0A10 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.31:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #E8A8A0 on #F5E8E8 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #F5E8E8 on #E8A8A0 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.67:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Triadic Scheme
The Ruby 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
Rubies from Burma were the most prized gems in Asian courts for a millennium, and the stone is the traditional birthstone of July. The pigeon blood ruby remains the benchmark color in the trade.
Best Design Use Cases
Use the blush for backgrounds, the soft rose for cards, and the ruby for primary CTAs. The deep red works for text and premium accents where drama is wanted.
Industries This Palette Suits
Jewelry, luxury fashion, beauty, weddings, film, premium food and drink.
Colors That Pair Well With Ruby 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 #E8A8A0 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
orange
30° beside #E8A8A0 — 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 Ruby Red Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #E8A8A0 for small UI elements on #F5E8E8 — at 1.7:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #4A0A10 — 13.1:1 against #F5E8E8 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #B02030 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #E8A8A0.
How to Implement the Ruby Red Color Scheme
To use this Ruby 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 #F5E8E8 for the main background and #E8A8A0 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #4A0A10 and #F5E8E8 is 13.11:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Ruby Red Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Ruby Red color palette?
The Ruby Red palette contains #F5E8E8, #E8A8A0, #B02030, #4A0A10. 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 Ruby Red color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #4A0A10 on #F5E8E8 reaches 13.1:1 (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 Ruby Red palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #84D6E1, #E2CBA6, #161212 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 Ruby Red palette create?
Ruby Red reads as rich, passionate, premium. Gently saturated red drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated red — a combination that works best when the very light base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Ruby Red color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Ruby 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 Ruby 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 Ruby Red's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.