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Cardinal Red Color Code: HEX Code & RGB Code Values

Looking for specific cardinal red color code? Get exact cardinal red hex code #C41E3A and cardinal red RGB code rgb(196,30,58). Complete color information for design and development projects featuring this rich, sophisticated color.

Visual example of cardinal red color with its rich, vibrant appearance
HEX#C41E3A
RGBrgb(196,30,58)

Shades of Cardinal Red

Create custom shades of cardinal red with our color generator. Adjust hues, tints, and tones to find the perfect shade of cardinal red for your project.

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Shades (Adding Black)

  • 3B82F6
    rgb(59, 130, 246)
  • 376BC8
    rgb(55, 107, 200)
  • 31559D
    rgb(49, 85, 157)
  • 294073
    rgb(41, 64, 115)
  • 202C4C
    rgb(32, 44, 76)
  • 151928
    rgb(21, 25, 40)
  • 000000
    rgb(0, 0, 0)

Tints (Adding White)

  • 3B82F6
    rgb(59, 130, 246)
  • 6D95F8
    rgb(109, 149, 248)
  • 91A9FA
    rgb(145, 169, 250)
  • AFBEFC
    rgb(175, 190, 252)
  • CBD3FD
    rgb(203, 211, 253)
  • E5E9FE
    rgb(229, 233, 254)
  • FFFFFF
    rgb(255, 255, 255)

Tones (Adding Gray)

  • 3B82F6
    rgb(59, 130, 246)
  • 5082E9
    rgb(80, 130, 233)
  • 6182D7
    rgb(97, 130, 215)
  • 6F83C4
    rgb(111, 131, 196)
  • 7983B0
    rgb(121, 131, 176)
  • 80849B
    rgb(128, 132, 155)
  • 808080
    rgb(128, 128, 128)

Cardinal Red Palette

Explore curated and automatically generated color palettes featuring cardinal red. See how it harmonizes with other colors for UI themes, graphics, and branding materials.

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Sequential

Single hue gradient for data visualization

7 colors
Lightest
#DAF1FF
Light
#ACD2F3
Medium Light
#7AB5E7
Medium
#3498DB
Medium Dark
#2B6F9F
Dark
#214967
Darkest
#142634

Diverging

Dual hue gradient with a neutral midpoint

9 colors
Base End
#3498DB
Left Dark
#76AEE2
Left Medium
#A4C5E9
Left Light
#CEDDEF
Neutral
#F5F5F5
Right Light
#F5D5C3
Right Medium
#F1B593
Right Dark
#E89664
Complementary End
#DB7734

Monochromatic

Same hue, different brightness/saturation

5 colors
Lightest
#FFFFFF
Light
#A9CAED
Medium
#3498DB
Dark
#004D89
Darkest
#000000

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the color wheel (30° apart)

5 colors
Left Adjacent 2
#34DB77
Left Adjacent 1
#34DBCB
Main
#3498DB
Right Adjacent 1
#3445DB
Right Adjacent 2
#7734DB

Complementary

Colors opposite on the color wheel (180° apart)

2 colors
Main
#3498DB
Complementary
#DB7734

Triadic

Evenly spaced around the color wheel (120° apart)

3 colors
Main
#3498DB
Secondary
#DB3498
Tertiary
#98DB34

Square

Four colors evenly spaced (90° apart)

4 colors
Main
#3498DB
Right 90°
#CB34DB
Complementary
#DB7734
Left 90°
#45DB34

Tetradic

Two pairs of complementary colors

4 colors
Main
#3498DB
Secondary
#7734DB
Complementary
#DB7734
Complementary Secondary
#98DB34

Split Complementary

Complementary colors ±30°

3 colors
Main
#3498DB
Split Left
#DB3444
Split Right
#DBCB34

Cyclic

Circular gradient for periodic data

8 colors
#3498DB
45°
#4D34DB
90°
#CB34DB
135°
#DB346E
180°
#DB7734
225°
#C2DB34
270°
#45DB34
315°
#34DBA1

Pastel

Soft, desaturated colors for modern UI

6 colors
Light Pastel
#A2B6C3
Pastel 1
#AFBFCB
Pastel 2
#BBC9D3
Pastel 3
#C7D3DB
Pastel 4
#D4DDE3
Deep Pastel
#E0E7EB

Common Red Color Codes (HEX & RGB)

HEX:#FF0000
RGB:rgb(255, 0, 0)
HEX:#8B0000
RGB:rgb(139, 0, 0)
HEX:#880808
RGB:rgb(136,8,8)
HEX:#800000
RGB:rgb(128, 0, 0)
HEX:#800020
RGB:rgb(128, 0, 32)
HEX:#DC143C
RGB:rgb(220, 20, 60)

Extract Cardinal Red Hex & RGB Codes from Image

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Cardinal Red Color Code Converter

Instantly convert between HEX, RGB, CMYK, and more for cardinal red shades.

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All Formats:

  • HEX:
    #ECB12E
  • RGB:
    rgb(236, 177, 46)
  • CMYK:
    cmyk(0%, 25%, 81%, 7%)
  • HSV:
    hsv(41°, 81%, 93%)
  • HSL:
    hsl(41°, 83%, 55%)

What is Cardinal Red?

Cardinal red is a rich, vivid red inspired by the crimson-colored robes worn by cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. Named after these high-ranking clergy members whose distinctive scarlet garments have symbolized religious authority for centuries, cardinal red sits between clear red and crimson — warm enough to feel energetic, yet deep enough to convey dignity and importance.

The hex code for cardinal red is #C41E3A, with RGB values of rgb(196, 30, 58). The color achieves its characteristic warmth through a strong red channel, a restrained green component, and a moderate blue presence that deepens the red without pushing it into the coolness of crimson. In print, cardinal red's CMYK composition emphasizes magenta and yellow with modest black, producing a vivid yet sophisticated red.

Cardinal Red vs Similar Reds

Cardinal red holds a distinct middle ground among classic reds:

ColorHEX CodeKey Difference
Cardinal Red#C41E3ARich warm red, vibrant but dignified
Crimson#DC143CCooler, with more blue undertone
Scarlet#FF2400Much brighter, more orange-leaning
Ruby Red#9B111EDarker, more jewel-toned and muted

Cardinal red is more balanced than scarlet — it has enough warmth to feel energetic but trades scarlet's aggressive brightness for a more refined presence. Compared to crimson, cardinal red is noticeably warmer and sits closer to a true neutral red.

Using Cardinal Red in Design

Cardinal red's balance of warmth and depth makes it versatile across design disciplines:

Web and UI Design: Cardinal red performs well as a primary brand accent for sports teams, universities, and appointment-based platforms. It creates inviting CTA buttons that feel urgent without being aggressive. Its warm character makes it particularly effective for food, hospitality, and social platforms where pure red can feel too transactional.

Graphic Design: Cardinal red prints beautifully on both coated and uncoated paper. It pairs naturally with white and navy for collegiate-style designs, or with gold and black for more premium applications. It makes an excellent hero color for presentation decks and annual reports seeking warmth and professionalism.

Brand and Sports Identity: The St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) and Arizona Cardinals (NFL) built their identities around cardinal red. Multiple universities, including Stanford and the University of Arkansas, use cardinal red to convey passion, tradition, and competitive spirit. The color says "we care deeply about what we do."

Fashion: Cardinal red is a universally flattering shade that suits both warm and cool skin tones. It appears frequently in formal wear, accessories, and cosmetics — a slightly softer alternative to true red for those wanting color without overwhelming brightness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cardinal red hex code?

The cardinal red hex code is #C41E3A. This rich, warm red is used across sports branding, university colors, and design platforms.

What colors go well with cardinal red?

Cardinal red pairs well with navy blue, white, gold, charcoal, cream, and forest green. For collegiate looks, combine cardinal red with white and navy.

Is cardinal red the same as crimson?

No. Cardinal red (#C41E3A) is warmer and slightly brighter than crimson (#DC143C), which has a cooler, bluer undertone.

What are the RGB values for cardinal red?

The cardinal red RGB code is rgb(196, 30, 58) — strong red, minimal green, and moderate blue that creates warmth without cooling the color.

What is cardinal red's CMYK equivalent?

Cardinal red CMYK is approximately C:0, M:85, Y:70, K:23, producing a vivid warm red well-suited for both digital and print applications.