Dark Red vs Fire Red

How close are they?

ΔE 10.7, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Fire Red is a little lighter, more muted than Dark Red.

Can I use Fire Red instead of Dark Red?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). Fire Red is a little lighter, more muted than Dark Red.

Can I use Dark Red instead of Fire Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Dark Red is a little darker, more saturated.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.