Firebrick

HEX: #B22222 | Modern Palette

On White
6.68:1
PASS
On Black
3.14:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#B22222
RGB
178, 34, 34
HSL
0°, 67% ,41%
CMYK
0, 81, 81, 30

About Firebrick

Firebrick (#B22222) is a color with RGB(178, 34, 34) and HSL(0°, 67.9%, 41.6%). It is commonly associated with Romantic moods. In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #22B2B2, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #22B222 and #2222B2. The name comes from Firebrick (English).

  • HEX: #B22222
  • RGB: 178, 34, 34
  • HSL: 0°, 67.9%, 41.6%
  • Mood: Romantic
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #22B2B2
  • Triadic colors: #22B222, #2222B2
  • The name comes from Firebrick (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Firebrick #B22222 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
FIREBRICK
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
FIREBRICK
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
FIREBRICK
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Firebrick #B22222 pairs with #22B2B2 as its complementary color, and #22B222 and #2222B2 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

FIREBRICK
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

FIREBRICK
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

FIREBRICK
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

FIREBRICK
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

FIREBRICK
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

FIREBRICK

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Firebrick #B22222 moves from dark #150404 tones through the base color to lighter #FBEAEA tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

FIREBRICK

Color Characteristics

Mood
Romantic
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #696913
Protanopia #474724
Tritanopia #B22222
Achromatopsia #5C5C5C

Frequently Asked Questions

Firebrick (#B22222) is a color with RGB(178, 34, 34) and HSL(0°, 67.9%, 41.6%).

#B22222 pairs strongly with #22B2B2 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#B22222 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Warm styles.

#B22222 is commonly associated with Romantic.

The name Firebrick is linked to Firebrick from English, meaning A brick made of fireclay, able to withstand high temperatures..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Firebrick
Meaning A brick made of fireclay, able to withstand high temperatures.
Language English
First Recorded Use 18th Century

History

The material 'firebrick' has a history tied to industrial development, particularly in metallurgy, glassmaking, and ceramics, where furnaces and kilns needed linings that could endure extreme heat without melting or degrading. Early forms of refractory materials existed for centuries, but the specific engineered 'firebrick' became crucial with the Industrial Revolution. The color 'Firebrick' (#b22222) is a rich, deep red that evokes the intense heat and glowing embers associated with a fire or a hot brick. Its inclusion in standard web color palettes (like X11 color names) cemented its recognition as a distinct shade.

First Recorded Use

The term 'firebrick' itself, referring to the material, appears to solidify in usage during the 18th century as industrial processes requiring high-temperature resistance became more common. The color name 'Firebrick' as a specific shade of red is a much more modern adoption, likely popularized with web colors and digital design in the late 20th century.

Cultural Associations

The color 'Firebrick' is often associated with warmth, intensity, and robustness due to its namesake material. It can evoke feelings of comfort (like a fireplace) or passion and strength (like a deep red). In design, it's a strong, grounding red that can be used to convey tradition, resilience, or a bold statement. It's less aggressive than a pure bright red but more vibrant than a maroon.

Similar Named Colors
Carnelian #B31B1B ΔE 1.35
Upsdell Red #AE2029 ΔE 2.65
Brown #A52A2A ΔE 3.12
International Orange (engineering) #BA160C ΔE 4.40

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #B22222;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #B22222;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #B22222;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #B22222,
        #22B2B2
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #B22222,
        #22B2B2
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$firebrick: #B22222;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$firebrick-r: 178;
$firebrick-g: 34;
$firebrick-b: 34;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $firebrick;
    color: rgba($firebrick-r, $firebrick-g, $firebrick-b, 0.8);
}