Candy apple red
A glossy, intense red inspired by the coating on candied apples
Candy apple red is a vivid red shade named for the glossy sugar coating on candied apples. It is best known for a special paint process used in custom cars and guitars, where a metallic base is layered with transparent red and a clear gloss for depth and shine.
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- Named for the red coating on candied apples
- Famous in custom car and guitar finishes
- Created with metallic base, transparent red, and clear gloss
- Colour shifts with light and angle
- Mazda's 'Soul Red' uses a similar process
What colour is Candy apple red?
Candy apple red is a bright, glossy red colour that stands out for its depth and shine. The look comes from a process where a metallic undercoat is covered by a transparent red layer, then sealed with a clear gloss. The result is a finish that appears to glow and changes slightly with the angle of the light. This sets it apart from flat or standard reds, giving it a lively, almost luminous quality.
Where does Candy apple red come from?
The name comes from the shiny red sugar coating on candied apples. The paint process was first used on custom cars and hot rods in the early 1950s, with the technique credited to Joe Bailon. The colour is not mentioned in early colour dictionaries, but became popular in the automotive world and beyond for its striking appearance.
How Candy apple red is defined
To create a candy apple red finish, the surface is first prepared and primed. A highly reflective metallic paint, often silver or gold, is applied as a base. Next, several coats of transparent red paint are layered on top, followed by multiple clear coats for extra gloss and protection. The metallic base reflects light through the red layer, giving the colour its depth and intensity.
Where Candy apple red is used
Candy apple red is most famous in custom car culture, but it is also used on electric guitars, home décor, and other objects. The finish is valued for its rich, glowing appearance. Some car manufacturers have offered similar colours, though true candy apple red requires a complex, multi-layered process. Mazda's 'Soul Red' is a modern example using robotic techniques.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
The flag uses the four Pan-Arab colours: a red bar at the hoist with green, white and black bands. It was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of the United Arab EmiratesThe flag is a black double-headed eagle on red, the banner of the fifteenth-century hero Skanderbeg. Fans chant Kuq e Zi, red and black.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of AlbaniaArmenian scribes painted manuscripts with vordan karmir, a crimson dye made from an insect that lives on the roots of grasses in the Ararat plain.
Sacred and holySource: Armenian cochinealUnder Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 1830s and 1840s, everyone had to wear a scarlet ribbon to show loyalty to his Federalist party. His enemies, the Unitarians, were tied to sky blue.
Politics and protestFearSource: Juan Manuel de RosasThe flag is red, white and red. Legend says Duke Leopold V's white tunic was soaked in blood at the siege of Acre, all but the band under his belt.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of AustriaRed ochre is used in Aboriginal rock art and ceremony, and is traded over long distances. In the Aboriginal flag the red half stands for the earth and for that ochre.
Sacred and holyNature and renewalAweSource: Australian Aboriginal flagShades and relatives of Candy apple red
Candy apple red can look different depending on the metallic base used. A silver undercoat gives a pure, intense red, while gold adds warmth. Painters sometimes add metallic or pearl flakes for extra effects. The process has inspired a range of 'candy' colours in many shades, all using similar layered techniques.
Colours that go with Candy apple red
Harmonies are worked out from the value #FF0800. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Candy apple red
What colour is candy apple red?
Candy apple red is a vivid, glossy red that looks deep and almost glowing. The effect comes from layering transparent red over a metallic base, then sealing it with a clear gloss.
Where does the name candy apple red come from?
The name is inspired by the shiny red sugar coating on candied apples, which the paint finish is meant to resemble.
How is candy apple red paint made?
A metallic base coat is applied first, followed by several coats of transparent red, and finished with a clear gloss. This process creates a deep, reflective red finish.
Where is candy apple red most often used?
It is best known in custom car painting, but is also used on guitars, home décor, and other objects where a striking, glossy red is wanted.
Does candy apple red always look the same?
No, the colour can change depending on the metallic base (silver or gold) and the viewing angle, giving it a lively, shifting appearance.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Candy apple red", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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