Pantone 185 C
Vivid red
- One of 165 colors in Pantone Red Colors.
- White text works best (4.85:1, passes WCAG AA for body text).
- Closest RAL: RAL 3018 Strawberry Red — very close (ΔE 2.8).
Color values
HEX, RGB and CMYK are screen and process approximations, not official Pantone values. Tap a value to copy it.
Text on this color
Similar Pantone colors
Ranked by color difference (ΔE 2000). Below 2 most people cannot tell them apart.
Neighbors by number
#E4002BThis color#C8102EΔE 5.9Tints and shades
Mixed toward white and black in 20% steps, each matched to the nearest Pantone color.
Tints (toward white)
Shades (toward black)
Color schemes
Hue rotations in OKLCH at the same lightness and chroma, matched to the nearest Pantone color.
Complementary
#E4002BBase color#008C95ΔE 1.1 · very closeAnalogous
#E4002BBase colorTriadic
#E4002BBase colorClosest RAL and NCS colors
#D53032ΔE 2.8 · very close#CB3234ΔE 4.3 · close#FF2A1BNCS (published crosswalk) · ΔE 9.6 · visibly different#E41931NCS (nearest on screen) · ΔE 1.2 · very closeThe crosswalk code is the commonly published NCS equivalent; its on-screen swatch is only an approximation, so compare physical samples.
Compare more options in the Pantone to RAL and Pantone to NCS converters.
How it looks with color blindness
The color shifts noticeably for protanopia and deuteranopia. Do not rely on this color alone to signal status or meaning; add a label or icon. Simulation uses the Machado et al. (2009) model.
About Pantone 185 C
185 C is a bright, saturated red, lighter and slightly more orange than 186 C next to it (ΔE 6).
On screen it is close to 1795 C (ΔE 3.0), and RAL 3018 Strawberry Red is a close paint match (ΔE 2.8). White text passes WCAG AA at 4.8:1.
Use in code
:root {
--pantone-185-c: #E4002B;
}
.brand {
background-color: var(--pantone-185-c);
color: #FFFFFF;
}$pantone-185-c: #E4002B;// tailwind.config.js → theme.extend.colors
'pantone-185-c': '#E4002B',
<div class="bg-[#E4002B]">…</div>Frequently asked questions
What is the HEX code for Pantone 185 C?
The screen approximation used on this site is #E4002B, which is RGB 228, 0, 43.
What are the CMYK values for Pantone 185 C?
A process approximation is C 0, M 100, Y 81, K 11. Spot inks can look different from a four-color build, so proof important jobs.
What is the closest RAL color to Pantone 185 C?
RAL 3018 Strawberry Red is the closest RAL Classic color (ΔE 2.8, very close).
What does the “C” in the name mean?
“C” stands for coated: the reference shows how the ink looks on coated (glossy) paper. The same ink usually looks darker and duller on uncoated paper.
Should I use white or black text on Pantone 185 C?
White text reads better, with a contrast ratio of 4.85:1 (passes WCAG AA for body text).
Related tools
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone LLC. Pantone® is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC. The color values provided here are for reference purposes only and may not be 100% accurate representations of official Pantone colors.