The Cherry Color Code: HEX, RGB, CMYK

Few colors carry the same visual punch as cherry color, a warm, rich red-pink that sits between pure red and magenta on the color wheel.

It combines red and a measured amount of pink, giving it a berry-like depth that plain red simply does not have. RGB values land around (222, 49, 99), with a hue angle of 342.7 degrees.

This guide covers everything from hex codes and color palettes to color psychology, design applications, and how cherry compares to similar shades like crimson and scarlet.

Whether you are working on branding, interior design, or fashion, you will find accurate color data and practical guidance here.

Cherry Color Codes

Cherry is a warm, medium-dark red with a pink undertone. Its hex code is #DE3163, and it sits at hue 342.7 degrees on the color theory spectrum, closer to red-pink than pure red.

• HEX: #DE3163
• RGB: rgb(222, 49, 99)
• CMYK: C: 0%, M: 78%, Y: 55%, K: 13%
• HSL: hsl(342.7, 72.4%, 53.1%)

In the RGB color model, cherry is dominated by red at 87.1%, with green at 19.2% and blue at 38.8%. That blue presence is what separates it from a straightforward scarlet or tomato red. It pushes the tone toward a berry-like richness.

For print work, the CMYK values at 0% cyan, 78% magenta, 55% yellow, and 13% black will get you close. Keep in mind that actual output can shift depending on paper stock and printer calibration. Always run a test print before finalizing.

When working with saturation levels, cherry sits at 72.4%, which makes it bold without being harsh. It has enough lightness (53.1%) to avoid looking muddy, which is one reason it works in both digital and physical applications.

The closest Pantone match is around Pantone 192 C or 7635 C, depending on the specific cherry variation you are working with. Always verify against physical swatches when color accuracy matters.

You can use an RGB to HEX Converter or a HEX to RGB Converter to quickly switch between formats. For print projects, an RGB to CMYK converter helps you prepare files accurately without guessing.

If you need to check accessibility contrast ratios before shipping a design, a color contrast checker is worth bookmarking. Cherry on white passes large text contrast requirements but falls short for small body text at standard sizes, so use it as an accent rather than a background for paragraphs.

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Cherry Color Palettes

Cherry pairs across multiple harmony types, from high-contrast complementary setups to more restrained monochrome colors built around tints and shades of the same hue.

If you want to experiment further with these combinations, a color palette generator can help you build and test schemes quickly without manually calculating hex values.

For a wider look at how cherry fits into broader red-family collections, the red color palettes page covers a solid range of warm red combinations. You can also find cherry used in warm color palettes, where it tends to anchor the deeper end of a berry-and-earth grouping.

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Cherry Color Shades

Cherry encompasses several variations including light cherry pink, medium cherry, the standard cherry red, deep cherry, dark cherry, and near-black cherry.

Each variation differs in saturation, brightness, and lightness. Some lean lighter toward blush and pink tones, others push darker toward burgundy and maroon, creating distinct aesthetic effects depending on context.

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What Are the Primary Attributes of Cherry?

Cherry has five primary attributes: a red-pink hue (derived from its position at 342.7 degrees on the color wheel), high magenta saturation (72.4%), moderate lightness (53.1%), warm berry undertones, and strong visual weight that draws immediate attention in design.

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How Is Cherry Used in Interior Design?

Cherry works as a statement accent in interior design, creating energetic and passionate spaces that feel both bold and sophisticated.

Designers use it on accent walls, upholstery, throw pillows, and rugs to add warmth to otherwise neutral rooms. It pairs well with charcoal, cream, and dark wood tones. Works in both modern and more eclectic setups.

One thing worth noting: cherry on all four walls is usually too much. A single wall or a key furniture piece is enough. The color has enough visual weight that it does not need to be everywhere to make an impact.

It reads well in dining rooms and living areas where energy and warmth are useful. Less ideal for bedrooms, where it can feel overstimulating for sleep environments. That said, some people love a deep cherry bedroom and it works fine if the rest of the room stays calm.

The darker shade variants, like #8B0030, lean closer to dark red territory and tend to feel more luxurious and contained, which makes them easier to use across larger surfaces.

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What Psychology and Emotions Does Cherry Evoke?

Cherry evokes passion, desire, confidence, and energy through its connection to ripe fruit, warmth, and bold expression.

Color psychology research shows cherry stimulates attention and motivation, raises energy levels in environments, and creates spaces that encourage action and social interaction.

Compared to a pure red, cherry carries a slightly softer edge due to its pink component. That makes it feel a bit more approachable and less aggressive, while still projecting authority.

In Eastern cultures, this red-berry shade connects to good fortune and celebration. In Western contexts, it reads more as romance, boldness, and high energy. Those cultural layers matter when using it in global branding.

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How Is Cherry Applied in Fashion and Clothing?

Cherry serves as a bold statement color in fashion, offering striking visual impact across dresses, coats, accessories, and footwear.

Fashion designers use cherry for its warmth, versatility between seasons, and ability to work as both a hero color and an accent. It shows up consistently in fall and winter collections but has been making strong appearances in spring runway work too, particularly since it trended heavily in fall 2023.

For skin tone compatibility, cherry works well on deeper and olive skin tones. On lighter complexions, it can sometimes compete with the skin rather than complement it, so styling choices like keeping the cherry piece away from the face tend to help.

Cherry shoes and bags are probably the safest entry point if you want the color without committing to a full garment. They pop against neutrals like beige, cream, and charcoal.

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What Colors Complement and Contrast With Cherry?

Cherry complements gold, cream, charcoal, forest green, and dusty rose while contrasting effectively with teal, mint green, and navy blue.

These combinations create bold or refined palettes depending on ratio, leveraging cherry’s warm berry tone for either high-energy or sophisticated results.

Complementary Colors

Cherry + Gold

• Color Theory Basis: Warm tones reinforce each other without competing, both sitting on the warm side of the color wheel
• Visual Effect: Rich, luxurious, and elevated. Classic pairing seen in high-end branding and editorial design
• Best Applications: Branding, packaging design, wedding stationery, formal event materials
• Ratio Recommendations: 60% neutral background, 30% cherry, 10% gold accents
• Example Uses: Wine label design, luxury cosmetic packaging, editorial typography

Cherry + Charcoal

• Color Theory Basis: Dark neutral grounds the cherry and reduces its intensity without canceling it
• Visual Effect: Strong, modern, and confident. Cherry pops hard against charcoal
• Best Applications: Web design, brand identity, automotive, menswear
• Ratio Recommendations: 70% charcoal, 25% cherry, 5% white or light gray
• Example Uses: Dark-mode UI with cherry CTAs, sport brand logos, leather goods

Cherry + Cream

• Color Theory Basis: Soft neutrals let cherry breathe without the starkness of pure white
• Visual Effect: Warm, inviting, slightly vintage
• Best Applications: Interior textiles, print design, wedding palettes, lifestyle branding
• Ratio Recommendations: 65% cream, 30% cherry, 5% dark wood or brown accents
• Example Uses: Boutique packaging, romantic editorial, furniture upholstery pairings

Cherry + Forest Green

• Color Theory Basis: Near-complementary on the color wheel. Red and green sit opposite each other, creating natural visual tension that reads as festive or earthy depending on the specific shades
• Visual Effect: Bold, earthy, high-contrast
• Best Applications: Christmas color palettes, food branding, nature-themed design
• Ratio Recommendations: Equal weight works here, 50/50, especially in seasonal contexts
• Example Uses: Holiday packaging, botanical branding, seasonal editorial

Contrasting Colors

Cherry + Teal

• Contrast Type: Near-complementary with a cooler undertone clash
• Visual Impact: High energy and unexpected. Not a safe pairing but can be very striking
• Best Applications: Bold poster work, youthful branding, street-style fashion
• Balance Strategies: Keep teal as a background and cherry as a focused accent. Equal use of both will compete aggressively

Cherry + Navy Blue

• Contrast Type: Warm vs. cool, high value contrast
• Visual Impact: Crisp, authoritative, and polished
• Best Applications: Sportswear, corporate identity with a more creative edge, poster design
• Balance Strategies: Navy as the dominant tone with cherry used for type or accent shapes keeps this refined

Cherry + Mint Green

• Contrast Type: Complementary hue family with strong temperature contrast
• Visual Impact: Playful, fresh, and surprisingly modern when done well
• Best Applications: Kids branding, food and beverage packaging, spring color palettes
• Balance Strategies: Lean heavily on the mint, use cherry sparingly as a pop of warmth

Color Scheme Types

• Monochromatic: Use tints from light cherry pink (#F4A5B8) through to very dark cherry (#560020). Excellent for sophisticated, single-color branded materials
• Analogous colors: Pair cherry with adjacent hues like hot pink, rose red, and scarlet. These stay close on the wheel and feel cohesive without being flat
• Triadic: Cherry + lime green + cobalt blue. High contrast and energetic, best for bold graphic work
• Split-Complementary: Cherry + cyan-teal and cobalt. Slightly softer than a direct complement, with more flexibility
• Tetradic: Cherry + amber/gold + teal + cobalt. Complex palette, needs a neutral anchor to avoid feeling chaotic

Practical Pairing Guidelines

• 60-30-10 Rule: Neutral (white, charcoal, cream) takes 60%, cherry takes 30%, accent color takes 10%
• Accent Strategy: Cherry as a 10% accent against a neutral 90% is the safest and most flexible approach for digital interfaces
• Neutral Bridging: When pairing cherry with a strong contrast color like teal or navy, introduce a neutral like warm gray or ivory between them to prevent visual friction

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How Does Cherry Differ From Similar Warm Colors?

Cherry differs from crimson red (cooler and darker), scarlet (more orange, less pink), burgundy (deeper and more purple), and rose red (lighter and more playful) through its specific balance of magenta warmth, berry undertone, and mid-level lightness.

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How Do You Create Cherry in Different Mediums?

Create cherry by mixing a warm red with a small amount of magenta or pink in paint, by setting RGB values to (222, 49, 99) in digital work, or by adjusting your CMYK mix to 0/78/55/13 for print.

The key is making sure the red stays warm and the pink component does not overpower it. Too much magenta and you end up with cerise or fuchsia. Too little and it reads as plain scarlet or crimson.

Acrylic Paint

Start with a cadmium red or naphthol red medium as the base. Add small amounts of quinacridone magenta to pull the tone toward the pink-red range. If the mix goes too bright, add a small touch of burnt sienna to deepen it slightly.

• Base colors: Naphthol Red Medium + Quinacridone Magenta
• Ratio: Roughly 75% red to 25% magenta as a starting point
• Avoid: Adding white early. It cools and flattens the tone fast
• Adjustment: Too dark? Add a touch of cadmium red light. Too pink? Add more naphthol red

Oil Paint

Use Cadmium Red Deep with Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Red. Oil colors shift slightly as they dry and cure, so test your mix on a scrap piece before committing to the canvas.

• Pigments: PR108 (Cadmium Red Deep) + PV19 (Quinacridone Rose)
• Drying consideration: Some reds in oil can deepen or shift cooler over weeks. Varnish once fully cured to preserve the tone

Watercolor

Mix Pyrrol Scarlet or Winsor Red with Quinacridone Magenta. Keep the water ratio high for lighter tints, lower for a saturated, rich cherry wash.

• Pigments: Pyrrol Scarlet (PR255) + Quinacridone Magenta (PR122)
• Layering: Build depth with two or three thin glazes rather than one heavy application
• Dilution: 1 part pigment to 3 parts water for a mid-tone cherry wash

Gouache

Gouache mixes similarly to acrylic but dries more matte. Use the same naphthol red and quinacridone magenta combination. Avoid over-diluting as gouache loses its opacity when too watered down.

• Base: Naphthol Red + Quinacridone Magenta
• Key note: Gouache can lighten significantly on drying. Test on the same paper stock and let it fully dry before judging the result

Print / CMYK

• Cyan: 0%
• Magenta: 78%
• Yellow: 55%
• Black: 13%
• Paper: Coated stock gives truer results. Uncoated paper will absorb more ink and the color will appear slightly darker and less saturated
• Pantone match: Pantone 192 C or 7635 C (verify against physical swatch)

If you need to convert between color formats quickly, use a HSL to RGB converter or the CMYK to RGB converter to cross-check values between systems.

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What Are the Best Practices for Using Cherry in Design?

Best practices for cherry include using it as an accent rather than a dominant tone, testing contrast ratios for text applications, pairing it with strong neutrals, and checking how it renders across both screen and print outputs.

Designers should keep cherry use intentional and restrained. It carries high visual weight, and overuse across a layout creates fatigue quickly. One well-placed cherry element tends to outperform five competing ones.

A few practical notes worth knowing:

• Cherry on white text fails WCAG AA for small body text. Use it for headlines, icons, or large UI elements only
• White text on a cherry background passes AA at normal and large sizes
• Cherry pairs well with both serif fonts and bold sans-serif fonts. Light or thin typefaces tend to get lost against it
• In visual hierarchy, cherry naturally sits at the top. Do not fight it. Use that pull deliberately for CTAs, key data points, or primary navigation elements
• For print, always check the CMYK output on a physical proof. Cherry is one of those colors that shifts noticeably between screen and paper

Using white space around cherry elements helps them land properly. Cramming cherry into a busy layout removes much of its punch.

Also worth considering: cherry and gradient transitions work really well when moving from cherry toward a deep burgundy or maroon. That kind of depth transition looks rich in both UI and print contexts.

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What Role Does Cherry Play in Branding and Marketing?

Cherry plays the role of a confidence and energy signal in branding, communicating passion, desire, and bold sophistication to consumers.

Marketing research shows cherry-adjacent reds increase attention and urgency responses, making it effective for food and beverage, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands seeking an approachable but strong brand presence.

What separates cherry from a straight red in branding is that pink undertone. It softens the aggression slightly, which makes it usable in categories where pure red would feel too intense. Beauty brands use this a lot. Think lip color lines, nail products, and premium skincare packaging.

For logo work specifically, cherry reads well at small sizes because of its high saturation. It does not wash out. That said, it requires careful handling against colored backgrounds. Against dark navy or black, it pops. Against a warm tan or yellow, the contrast drops off and it can look muddy. Always check your color palette in context before finalizing.

Cherry also showed up strongly in fall 2023 fashion branding and has carried forward into product design and retail environments. It is not a trend-only color, but it does go through peaks. Right now it is popular, which means using it requires differentiation in other parts of the visual identity to avoid blending in with every other brand using the same berry-red palette.

One more thing: cherry tends to perform well on social media thumbnails and product shots. The saturation and warmth catch attention in fast-scrolling feeds without relying on neon shock tactics. Worth testing if you are working on Instagram color palettes for a brand.

FAQ on Cherry Color

What Is the Hex Code for Cherry Color?

The standard cherry color hex code is #DE3163. Its RGB values are (222, 49, 99) and its HSL values are hsl(342.7, 72.4%, 53.1%). These codes ensure consistent color reproduction across digital screens and design tools.

Is Cherry a Warm or Cool Color?

Cherry is a warm color. Its red base and berry-pink undertone place it firmly on the warm side of the color wheel. That said, its slight magenta component gives it a touch more coolness than a straight scarlet or tomato red.

What Colors Go With Cherry?

Cherry pairs well with gold, charcoal, cream, navy blue, and forest green. For contrast, teal and mint green create striking combinations. Neutrals like ivory and taupe let cherry breathe without competing with it.

What Is the Difference Between Cherry and Burgundy?

Burgundy is darker, deeper, and leans more purple-red. Cherry sits at a higher lightness level (53.1%) with more magenta presence. Burgundy reads as more reserved and luxurious, while cherry feels bolder and more energetic in most design contexts.

What Does Cherry Color Symbolize?

Cherry symbolizes passion, desire, confidence, and energy. In Eastern cultures it connects to good fortune and celebration. In Western contexts it signals romance and boldness. Its color psychology sits between the intensity of pure red and the softness of pink.

What Is the CMYK Value for Cherry?

The CMYK values for cherry are C: 0%, M: 78%, Y: 55%, K: 13%. These are the values used for print reproduction. Always test on a physical proof first, since coated and uncoated paper stocks will render the color differently.

Is Cherry Color the Same as Cerise?

They are very close. Cerise shares the hex code #DE3163 and is sometimes used interchangeably with cherry. The main difference is naming convention. Cerise tends to appear in fashion and cosmetics contexts, while cherry is more common across design and branding applications.

How Do You Mix Cherry Color in Paint?

Mix a naphthol red medium with quinacridone magenta at roughly a 75/25 ratio. Too much magenta pushes it toward fuchsia. A small touch of burnt sienna deepens the tone if the mix reads too bright. Test on scrap material before applying.

What Skin Tones Does Cherry Suit in Fashion?

Cherry works best on deeper and olive skin tones, where it creates strong contrast and warmth. On lighter complexions it can compete with the skin, particularly near the face. Wearing cherry as an accessory or lower-body garment tends to be the safer approach.

Is Cherry a Good Color for Branding?

Yes. Cherry communicates passion, energy, and approachable confidence, which makes it effective for beauty, food, fashion, and lifestyle brands. Its pink undertone softens the aggression of pure red, giving it a wider range of brand applications without losing visual impact.

Conclusion

This conclusion is for an article presenting cherry color as one of the most versatile deep red shades in design, sitting at hex #DE3163 with a distinctive warm berry tone that sets it apart from crimson, scarlet, and burgundy.

Its CMYK and RGB values make it reliable across both print and digital applications, while its color psychology, rooted in passion, confidence, and energy, gives it real strategic value in branding and marketing.

From autumn color palettes to wedding color palettes, cherry adapts across contexts without losing its visual impact.

Use it with intention, keep it anchored by strong neutrals, and it will consistently deliver.

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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan Sandu is a seasoned designer who has been designing websites since 2008.

Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.

His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.

He also wrote in the past years on sites like Design Your Way, WebDesignerDepot, WPDean, Designmodo, Speckyboy, Slider Revolution, and more.

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