Warm combinationsBold and decisive
Red and Black Color Combination
Black gives red the maximum punch: with nothing else competing, red reads as signal, warning or celebration.
Hex codes #FF0000 and #000000 — a bold and decisive pair with a 5.25:1 contrast ratio between the two colors.
Values for this combination
Contrast between Red and Black
Contrast ratio 5.25:1. This only decides whether one color of the pair can carry text on the other — the colors themselves always work side by side.
Black text on a Red surface, at 5.25:1.
Red text on a Black surface, at 5.25:1.
Where this pair works
- Sale banners
- Gaming interfaces
- Poster typography
Give Red (#FF0000) roughly 60% of the surface, Black (#000000) about 30%, and leave the last 10% for the neutral below. That split is what keeps a two-color combination from turning into a fight.
A five-color set from this pair
Red and Black as a working palette: a pale tint of the lighter color for backgrounds, both colors as they are, a deep shade of the darker color for text and a neutral for everything in between.
- Pale tint#fae1e1backgrounds and large surfaces · closest to MistyRose
- Primary#FF0000the dominant color · closest to Red
- Secondary#000000the accent color · closest to Black
- Deep shade#292323text, borders and icons · closest to RaisinBlack
- Neutral#f6f4f4dividers and quiet surfaces · closest to WhiteSmoke
Explore Red and Black on their own
More color combinations
Black and White
#000000 · #FFFFFFMaximum clarityOpen combinationBlack and Gold
#000000 · #FFD700Luxury contrastOpen combinationBlack and Beige
#000000 · #F5F5DCWarm minimalismOpen combinationRed and Yellow
#FF0000 · #FFFF00Loud and appetisingOpen combinationRed and Teal
#FF0000 · #008080Opposites attractOpen combinationYellow and Black
#FFFF00 · #000000Hazard and highlightOpen combinationRed and Black are a bold and decisive pair: black gives red the maximum punch: with nothing else competing, red reads as signal, warning or celebration.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — this pair is used for sale banners, gaming interfaces, poster typography. The two colors measure 5.25:1 against each other, which is enough for body text in either direction.
Good to know
- Every value on this page is calculated from #FF0000 and #000000 — nothing is hardcoded.
- Build a longer palette out of Red or Black in the palette generator, or test your own text pair in the contrast checker.
Put this combination to work
Turn Red and Black into a full palette, a gradient or a set of shades — or check the pair against WCAG.
