Crimson (#DC143C)
The hex code for Crimson is #DC143C. It is rgb(220, 20, 60) in RGB, hsl(348, 83%, 47%) in HSL, and about cmyk(0%, 91%, 73%, 14%) in CMYK — a mid-tone red. White text is the more readable choice on this background.
#DC143Crgb(220, 20, 60)hsl(348, 83%, 47%)hsv(348, 91%, 86%)cmyk(0%, 91%, 73%, 14%)oklch(57.1% 0.222 20.1)lab(47.88% 71.28 35.48)lch(47.88% 79.62 26.46)Colors Closest to Crimson
Crimson is a registered color name. These are the named colors nearest to it, measured as CIE76 distance in CIELAB — a perceptual scale, so the ordering matches what the eye sees rather than how close the raw RGB numbers happen to sit.
Browse the full index of named colors A-Z or every red in the library.
#DC143C Channel Values
How Crimson breaks down in each color model. Hue is measured in degrees around the color wheel; saturation, lightness, and the CMYK inks are percentages.
| Model | Channels | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RGB | R 220 · G 20 · B 60 | 8-bit channels as sent to the display |
| HSL | H 348° · S 83% · L 47% | Easiest model for building lighter and darker variants |
| HSV | H 348° · S 91% · V 86% | Matches the picker in most design tools |
| CMYK | C 0% · M 91% · Y 73% · K 14% | Approximate ink mix; confirm with an ICC profile before printing |
| Luminance | 4.99:1 vs white · 4.21:1 vs black | WCAG 2.2 relative-luminance contrast ratios |
Text Contrast & Accessibility
WCAG 2.2 contrast ratios for text on a Crimson background. AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Contrast is one check, not a full accessibility review.
Need a specific ratio against another background? Open #DC143C in the contrast checker.
Colors That Go With Crimson
Pairings derived from color-wheel relationships. The complementary color sits opposite Crimson; analogous colors sit beside it; triadic and split-complementary sets spread evenly around the wheel. Select any swatch for its own breakdown.
Tints & Shades of Crimson
Lighter tints and darker shades built by moving the lightness channel while holding hue and saturation, which is what you want for hover states, backgrounds, and text variants.
Want a full 50-950 ramp with semantic roles? Generate design tokens from #DC143C.
How Crimson Looks with Color Vision Deficiency
Simulated with the Viénot, Brettel & Mollon LMS projection model. Anomalous types are rendered as partial versions of the matching dichromacy, which is an approximation rather than a per-person clinical model.
#DC143C#64643A#A2503B#87872C#AF6B33#DB1C1C#DC192C#6F6F6FUsing #DC143C in Code
Copy-ready declarations for the places this color usually ends up.
--crimson: #DC143C;background-color: #DC143C;colors: { 'crimson': '#DC143C' }Color(red: 0.863, green: 0.078, blue: 0.235)<color name="crimson">#DC143C</color>fill="#DC143C"More Red Colors
Crimson sits in the red family. These are its neighbours across that family's full range, each with its own breakdown.
#DC143C Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for Crimson?
The hex code for Crimson is #DC143C. That is rgb(220, 20, 60) in RGB, hsl(348, 83%, 47%) in HSL, and approximately cmyk(0%, 91%, 73%, 14%) in CMYK.
What is the RGB value of #DC143C?
#DC143C is rgb(220, 20, 60) — red 220, green 20, and blue 60 on the 0-255 scale.
What is the CMYK value of #DC143C?
#DC143C converts to approximately cmyk(0%, 91%, 73%, 14%). CMYK output is a mathematical approximation for planning; confirm production print colors with your printer and ICC profile.
Should text on #DC143C be black or white?
White text is the more readable choice. #DC143C scores 4.99:1 against white and 4.21:1 against black, and WCAG 2.2 asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal body text.
Is Crimson a CSS named color?
Yes. Crimson is one of the CSS named colors, so you can write color: crimson instead of the hex code.
Open Crimson in a Tool
Keep exploring: every red in the color library, the guide to shades of red, or the full color library.