Ruby

Richness and celebration, like a jewel in low light.

About ruby

Ruby tends to suggest richness and celebration, like a jewel in low light. It feels deep and a little grand.

What color is ruby?
Ruby is a deep, slightly blue red, like the gemstone. Its hex code is #9B111E.
Is ruby warm or cool?
Warm: it sits on the warm side of the color wheel, with the reds, oranges and yellows. It is a dark color, value 3 of 10, and its opposite is forest. More in warm and cool colors.
Where the name comes from
From the Latin ruber, red.
Value and codes
Value 3 of 10, in the red family. RGB 155, 17, 30. OKLCH 44.2% 0.169 24.3.

Where to use ruby

In a room

A velvet chair, cushions or a painted door. It looks best in warm light, with brass.

In an outfit

Evening dresses, lipstick and shoes. A small amount goes a long way.

In art

A deep red for jewels, fruit and rich cloth.

In design

Readable as text on white, with a contrast of 8.4 to 1, which passes the 4.5 to 1 guideline for small text.

What ruby pairs with

The opposite of ruby: Forest #17501C

Opposite ruby on the color wheel sits forest. Side by side, each makes the other look stronger; mixed, they turn each other gray.

  • Side by side

  • Ruby around forest

  • Forest around ruby

Often confused with ruby

How to mix ruby in paint

  • 3 parts
    quinacridone red
  • 1 part
    violet oxide

Golden Heavy Body Acrylics. This is a calculated mix and comes very close, so adjust by eye as you go. It needs a more specialist color. Practice in our Paint Mixer game.

Ruby tints, tones and shades

Tints

Tones

Shades

Tap a color to copy its code. A tint adds white, a tone adds gray of the same lightness, and a shade adds black. More in tints, tones and shades.

Ruby in paintings

Colors similar to ruby

See all colors

Ruby inspiration

Find your own colors

Add the pictures you love to Color Taste to see which colors they share, or make a palette from one photo in Image to Palette.

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Ruby