Colors that go with red

#FF0000 · warm red · hue 0° · best text: #000000

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

Ready-to-use palette

#FF0000
#000000
#F5F5DC
#030AA7
#00FF7F
#FAFAF9
#ff0000 #000000 #f5f5dc #030aa7 #00ff7f #fafaf9
#FF0000 #000000 #F5F5DC #030AA7 #00FF7F #FAFAF9
Open in palette generator →Full red page →

Best combinations — ranked

#1

Black #000000

· Same hue family as red (Δh 0°) — guaranteed harmony
· Text-safe contrast with the anchor (5.25:1, passes WCAG AA)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 53) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
5.3:1
vs red
#2

Beige #F5F5DC

· Warm/cool bridge (Δh 60°) — adds depth without tension
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.61:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 43) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.6:1
vs red
#3

Cobalt Blue #030AA7

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈123°) — balanced three-way contrast
· UI contrast with the anchor (3.27:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 33) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.3:1
vs red
#4

Spring Green #00FF7F

· Split-complementary angle (Δh ≈150°) — strong but softer than direct complement
· Close value pairing (2.97:1) — use for large surfaces, not small text
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 35) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
3.0:1
vs red
#5

Almost Black #070D0D

· Complementary hue (Δh ≈180°) — maximum hue contrast
· Text-safe contrast with the anchor (4.9:1, passes WCAG AA)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 50) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
4.9:1
vs red
#6

Chartreuse #7FFF00

· UI contrast with the anchor (3.09:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 37) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (100% vs 100%) — both vivid
contrast
3.1:1
vs red
#7

Lawngreen #7CFC00

· UI contrast with the anchor (3:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 36) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (100% vs 100%) — both vivid
contrast
3.0:1
vs red
#8

Bright Lime #87FD05

· UI contrast with the anchor (3.06:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 36) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (100% vs 98%) — both vivid
contrast
3.1:1
vs red
#9

Acid Green #8FFE09

· UI contrast with the anchor (3.11:1, passes AA large text)
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 37) — clear visual hierarchy
· Similar saturation (100% vs 99%) — both vivid
contrast
3.1:1
vs red
#10

Lime #00FF00

· Triadic harmony (Δh ≈120°) — balanced three-way contrast
· Close value pairing (2.91:1) — use for large surfaces, not small text
· Strong lightness separation (ΔL* 34) — clear visual hierarchy
contrast
2.9:1
vs red

Why these and not others

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

FAQ

What colors go with red?

Black, Beige, Cobalt Blue, Spring Green and Almost Black rank highest for red (#FF0000) 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 red?

The complementary hue of red (hue 0°) sits at hue 180°. The closest named colors on that side of the wheel are listed in the combinations above.

Is red a warm or cool color?

Red is a warm color (hue 0°). It pairs naturally with warm neutrals and earthy tones.