Circus Red
M140-6 · #8B2B4E · LRV 8 — warm magenta tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Rookwood Dark Red3
- 2Circus Red8
- 3Million Dollar Red13
- 4Cinnamon Slate19
What Color Is Circus Red, Really?
Circus Red reads as a warm magenta tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Behr M140-6 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Circus Red
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.
How Lighting Changes 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.
Most complaints about Circus Red are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr M140-6 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Forward FuchsiaSW 6842 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.2 | 9 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Crushed Velvet2076-10 · Benjamin Moore | 2.6 | 8 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Thrill RideP040 · Valspar | 4.6 | 7.4 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Forward Fuchsia101-7DB · Dutch Boy | 3.2 | 9 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | FramboiseHGSW 1021 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 4.7 | 8 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Scarlet AppleDEA146 · Dunn-Edwards | 3.1 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The 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.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
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.
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