Cardinal paint colors
Top picks for cardinal
6 editor's picksEditor's picks + the named cardinal every designer roundup features. Each card links to a single-color reference or full brand guide.
More cardinal shades
5 variantsDrill into shade variants — modifier-specific bands (light, deep, muted) and named in-between shades each link to their own hub with cross-brand matches.
Cardinal at every US brand
8 brands · 5 picks each5 picks per brand spread across the LRV range, drawn from each brand's full cardinal lineup. Tap any swatch for its single-color spec; tap the brand title for the brand's complete deck.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Dunn-Edwards
Sherwin-Williams
PPG / Glidden
Backdrop
Magnolia Home
Top Kompozit cardinal
16 in deckKompozit's deck has 16 colors that match the cardinal band. The 5 below are spread across the LRV range — pick a darkness, hit Amazon for the can.
About cardinal
Cardinal is bright red with a faint warm lean — saturated, slightly orange, and named for the bird and the robes. It lacks crimson's blue cool and scarlet's full orange punch, sitting neatly between them. LRV runs low, so a little goes far.
Use it on front doors, lacquer-finish furniture, and trim accents — not full walls in most rooms. Pair with crisp white, navy, and warm wood. Skip pastel neighbors. Designer alternatives: BM Million Dollar Red, SW Real Red, F&B Rectory Red.