Behr Circus Red#8B2B4E · LRV 8
Circus Red reads as a magenta / warm — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the spec, what Behr M140-6 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Circus Red |
| SKU | M140-6 |
| Hex | #8B2B4E |
| RGB | 139, 43, 78 |
| HSL | 338°, 53%, 36% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | magenta / warm |
| Family | Red |
About Behr Circus Red
At LRV 8, Circus Red is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its magenta undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Circus Red earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all red from that brand.
Benjamin Moore
Dunn-Edwards
Sherwin-Williams
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Circus Red within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #8B2B4E in HSL space. Pair Circus Red with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.