In Western cultures, maroon signifies controlled power and thoughtful action, often associated with leadership. Contrastingly, in some African cultures, it embodies the spirit of resilience and the fight against oppression.
The term 'maroon' originated in the late 19th century, linked to the French word for chestnut. In 1776, maroon was adopted as a color for military uniforms, symbolizing strength and stability during the American Revolutionary War.
Where the name and the color come from.
Maroon comes from the French marron, meaning "chestnut" — and the color matches the nut: a dark brownish-red, deeper and earthier than burgundy. The English word arrived in the 18th century describing exactly that rich, brownish crimson.
That brown undertone is the key to maroon's character. Where burgundy leans purple and wine-like, maroon leans toward earth and leather, which is why it feels traditional, sturdy and collegiate.
The places, brands and moments that shaped this color.
Maroon is a fixture of collegiate identity (Texas A&M, Harvard's crimson-maroon, and many others), tied to tradition and school pride.
Oxblood and maroon leather — shoes, satchels, bound books — lend the color its associations with craft and durability.
Like burgundy, maroon is a cornerstone of fall fashion and seasonal decor.
How it behaves in interiors, fashion and branding.
Maroon brings deep, traditional warmth. It works as a grounding accent in studies, libraries and hospitality interiors, and it pairs naturally with wood, leather and brass for a classic, established feel.
In branding and apparel it reads as dependable, scholarly and timeless — less indulgent than burgundy, more rooted and utilitarian.
Curated combinations — and exactly why each one works.
Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Maroon. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).
All 33 Reds →Nine steps of Maroon by lightness — from #430000 (darkest) to #BD7A7A (lightest). Click any to copy.
Sitting opposite Maroon at 180° on the color wheel, these give the highest-contrast pairings.
Curated 5-color combinations featuring Maroon.
A 50–900 tonal scale with Maroon anchored at 500 — ready to drop into a design system. Click any step to copy.
Works well as text on light backgrounds; fails on dark.
Thresholds: AA needs 4.5:1 (normal text) / 3:1 (large); AAA needs 7:1 / 4.5:1. Large = 18pt+ or 14pt+ bold.
Copy-ready values for CSS, screen and print, plus the extra conversions designers reach for.
color: maroon; color-mix(in srgb, maroon 70%, white) 0°, 100%, 50% 0, 100, 100, 50 8388608 #990000 How Maroon appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.
Quick answers to the questions people ask about Maroon.
Maroon leans brown (its name means chestnut), while burgundy leans purple (named after red wine). Side by side, maroon looks earthier and warmer; burgundy looks richer and cooler.
It is a dark red with a strong brown undertone — fundamentally red, but warmed and muddied toward brown, which gives it its earthy, traditional quality.
Gold and cream for a classic heritage look, navy for a preppy contrast, grey and charcoal for modern neutrality, and blush or dusty pink to lighten the palette.