Brown vs Red

How close are they?

ΔE 11.2, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Red is a little darker, more saturated, cooler than Brown.

Can I use Red instead of Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). Red is a little darker, more saturated, cooler than Brown.

Can I use Brown instead of Red?

The same difference applies the other way round: Brown is a little lighter, more muted, warmer.

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.