Burgundy Color Palette
Burgundy is hex #800020, rgb(128, 0, 32). Burgundy is a deep purple-red named after the wine region in France. It is darker and cooler than maroon, and it reads as rich, mature and confident.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Burgundy color codes
Reading the burgundy color codes
The hex code #800020 is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. 80 is 128, 00 is 0 and 20 is 32, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(128, 0, 32) in CSS. The red channel is the strongest here, which is what gives burgundy its red character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 345 degrees places burgundy in the red part of the color wheel. Saturation of 100% makes it vivid, and lightness of 25% makes it a dark color. HSL is the easiest format to adjust by hand: keep the hue, then raise or lower lightness to create tints and shades that stay in the same family.
For print, the approximate CMYK mix is 0% cyan, 100% magenta, 75% yellow and 50% black. Screen and print colors never match perfectly, because monitors emit light while ink absorbs it, so always proof a printed sample before committing to burgundy for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Burgundy shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #800020, so you can use burgundy for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"burgundy": {
50: "#ECDADE",
100: "#DFBEC7",
200: "#D1A3AF",
300: "#C48897",
400: "#B66D7F",
500: "#A95267",
600: "#9B3650",
700: "#8E1B38",
800: "#800020",
900: "#620019",
950: "#450011",
},
},
},
}:root {
--burgundy-50: #ECDADE;
--burgundy-100: #DFBEC7;
--burgundy-200: #D1A3AF;
--burgundy-300: #C48897;
--burgundy-400: #B66D7F;
--burgundy-500: #A95267;
--burgundy-600: #9B3650;
--burgundy-700: #8E1B38;
--burgundy-800: #800020;
--burgundy-900: #620019;
--burgundy-950: #450011;
}A shade-by-shade guide to burgundy
The 50 to 950 scale above follows the same structure as Tailwind's built-in palettes, so each step has a natural job. The lightest steps, 50 (#ECDADE) and 100 (#DFBEC7), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the burgundy mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#D1A3AF) and 300 (#C48897) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where burgundy is most recognizable, so use it for brand moments, illustrations and primary buttons. White text reaches the 4.5:1 body-text contrast minimum from step 500 upward, so use step 500 or darker when a button label needs to be white. Near-black text stays readable on steps 50 to 400.
The darkest steps, 800 (#800020) through 950 (#450011), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to burgundy. Using step 900 or 950 for text instead of pure black is one of the simplest ways to make an interface feel designed rather than default.
Colors that go with burgundy
How the burgundy color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from burgundy is #008060, which sits closest to skobeloff among common named colors. Complementary pairs create the strongest contrast of hue, so use the second color sparingly, for a single call to action or highlight, rather than in equal amounts.
Analogous. #800060 and #802000 sit 30 degrees either side of burgundy. Analogous palettes feel calm and cohesive because the colors share undertones; they are ideal for illustrations, gradients and backgrounds where you want harmony more than contrast.
Triadic and split complementary. The triadic set (#208000 and #002080) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to forest green. The split complementary set (#008020 and #006080) keeps much of the complementary contrast but is easier to balance, which makes it a good choice for data visualization and multi-category tags.
Monochromatic. The monochromatic set runs from #FF1A53 to #29000A. A single-hue palette is the safest way to build a calm, premium interface: rely on lightness for hierarchy, then add one neutral and one accent if you need emphasis.
Burgundy compared with similar colors
maroon (#800000) is about as light and similarly saturated, and leans back the wheel toward red. Choose maroon if you need more weight and contrast; choose burgundy if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
wine (#722F37) is lighter (32% vs 25% lightness) and more muted, and leans further around the wheel toward red. Choose wine if you want a softer, airier version; choose burgundy if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
chocolate brown (#7B3F00) is about as light and similarly saturated, and leans back the wheel toward orange. Choose chocolate brown if you need more weight and contrast; choose burgundy if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
Burgundy in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here burgundy carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
Weekly summary
Revenue grew 12% this week. Three invoices are waiting for approval.
Using burgundy in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. Burgundy carries white labels at 10.83:1, which passes AA for normal text.
- Text. Burgundy works as text on white backgrounds.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a vivid dark color draw attention, so give them a reason, like a hero section or pricing highlight.
- Dark mode. Steps 900 and 950 make a dark surface tinted with burgundy. On dark backgrounds the base color often needs a lighter step (300 or 400) to keep enough contrast for icons and borders, as required by WCAG non-text contrast.
- States. Shift one step darker for hover and two steps darker for pressed. Keep focus rings in a contrasting color so keyboard users can always see them.
Contrast and accessibility
AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text. AAA needs 7:1.
Color contrast is measured as a ratio from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white). Burgundy scores 10.83:1 against white (AAA) and 1.94:1 against black (Fail). The WCAG 2.1 contrast guideline asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which is why the shade guide above recommends specific steps for text and labels.
Contrast is only half of accessibility. Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, so never use burgundy alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What burgundy means
Red is the most urgent color: passion, energy, appetite and danger. Darker reds like burgundy and wine shift toward luxury and tradition.
Burgundy takes its name from the Burgundy wine region of France and the deep red wines produced there. It became a fashion color in the late 19th century and has stayed associated with wine, leather, heritage brands and academic institutions ever since.
Red is reserved for errors and destructive actions in most interfaces. If red is your brand color, keep it for marketing surfaces and give destructive actions an explicit label as well as a color.
Where burgundy works best
- Wine and spirits
- Luxury fashion
- Universities and heritage brands
- Autumn and holiday campaigns
How to style burgundy
Burgundy pairs well with cream, blush, camel, navy and gold. It is dark enough to carry white text comfortably, so it works as a button or header color, and it makes a richer alternative to black for luxury typography. Avoid combining it with bright red, which makes both look muddy.
Build a UI with burgundy
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #800020 as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Burgundy · History and definition of burgundy.
- WCAG 2.1: Contrast (Minimum) · The W3C rule behind the 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds used on this page.
- WCAG 2.1: Use of Color · Why color should never be the only way information is shown.
- MDN: CSS color values · Reference for hex, rgb() and hsl() syntax.
- Tailwind CSS: Customizing colors · How to add a custom color scale to your theme.
Similar colors
Questions people ask
What is the hex code for burgundy?
The hex code for burgundy used on this page is #800020. In RGB that is rgb(128, 0, 32), and in HSL it is hsl(345, 100%, 25%).
What colors go well with burgundy?
Burgundy pairs well with #4A0E1C, #F3E6DF, #C9A66B (the Cellar palette above). Its complementary color is #008060, and analogous colors are #800060 and #802000.
Is burgundy a warm or cool color?
Burgundy is a warm color. Its hue sits at 345 degrees on the color wheel with 100% saturation.
Can I use burgundy for text?
Burgundy has a contrast ratio of 10.83:1 against white and 1.94:1 against black. Body text needs at least 4.5:1, so it works as text on white backgrounds.
What does burgundy mean?
Red is the most urgent color: passion, energy, appetite and danger. Darker reds like burgundy and wine shift toward luxury and tradition. Burgundy in particular is used for wine and spirits and luxury fashion.
How do I use burgundy in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#800020] for a one-off, or add the 50-950 scale from this page to theme.extend.colors in tailwind.config.js and use classes like bg-burgundy-500 and text-burgundy-900.
↘ Building Inspo AI | AI-Powered Design Research & Builder Platform | Design Engineer.