Colors that go with crimson

#DC143C · warm red · hue 348° · best text: #FFFFFF

Ten combinations ranked by measurable criteria — hue harmony, WCAG contrast with crimson, lightness spread and saturation compatibility. Every pairing lists why it works.

Ready-to-use palette

#DC143C
#D8A7B1
#DBB42C
#96F97B
#1EF876
#FAFAF9
#dc143c #d8a7b1 #dbb42c #96f97b #1ef876 #fafaf9
#DC143C #D8A7B1 #DBB42C #96F97B #1EF876 #FAFAF9
Open in palette generator →Full crimson page →

Best combinations — ranked

#1

Dusty Pink #D8A7B1

· Same hue family as crimson (Δh 0°) — guaranteed harmony
· Close value pairing (2.4:1) — use for large surfaces, not small text
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 26) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
2.4:1
vs crimson
#2

Mustard #DBB42C

· Warm/cool bridge (Δh 59°) — adds depth without tension
· Close value pairing (2.51:1) — use for large surfaces, not small text
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 28) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
2.5:1
vs crimson
#3

Light Green #96F97B

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈119°) — balanced three-way contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.83:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 43) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.8:1
vs crimson
#4

Spearmint #1EF876

· Split-complementary angle (Δh ≈156°) — strong but softer than direct complement
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.5:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 39) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.5:1
vs crimson
#5

Bright Teal #01F9C6

· Complementary hue (Δh ≈180°) — maximum hue contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.65:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 41) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.6:1
vs crimson
#6

Pear #CBF85F

· UI contrast with the anchor (4.07:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 45) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (83% vs 92%) — both vivid
contrast
4.1:1
vs crimson
#7

Gold #FFD700

· UI contrast with the anchor (3.56:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 40) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (83% vs 100%) — both vivid
contrast
3.6:1
vs crimson
#8

Yellow Green #C8FD3D

· UI contrast with the anchor (4.18:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 46) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (83% vs 98%) — both vivid
contrast
4.2:1
vs crimson
#9

Yellowy Green #BFF128

· UI contrast with the anchor (3.76:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 42) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (83% vs 88%) — both vivid
contrast
3.8:1
vs crimson
#10

Lighter Green #75FD63

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈125°) — balanced three-way contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.8:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 42) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.8:1
vs crimson

Why these and not others

Pairings are scored against hue-harmony angles (0°/30°/60°/90°/120°/150°/180°), WCAG contrast ratio with crimson, lightness separation and saturation/chroma compatibility. Near-identical colors (ΔE₀₀ < 3.5) are excluded — every entry adds real information.

FAQ

What colors go with crimson?

Dusty Pink, Mustard, Light Green, Spearmint and Bright Teal rank highest for crimson (#DC143C) by hue harmony, contrast and saturation compatibility. The full ranked list is on this page with the reasoning for each pairing.

What is the complementary color of crimson?

The complementary hue of crimson (hue 348°) sits at hue 168°. The closest named colors on that side of the wheel are listed in the combinations above.

Is crimson a warm or cool color?

Crimson is a warm color (hue 348°). It pairs naturally with warm neutrals and earthy tones.