Lava
A purplish red named for fresh volcanic lava
Lava is a purplish shade of red, taking its name from the colour of molten volcanic lava. The colour matches the look of fresh lava as it pours from a volcano. The name first appeared in English in 1891.
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- Lava is a purplish red shade
- Named after the colour of fresh volcanic lava
- First used as a colour name in English in 1891
- Hex code for lava is #CF1020
- Dark lava matches the colour taupe
What colour is Lava?
Lava is a purplish red colour, inspired by the appearance of fresh lava flowing from a volcano. It stands out from other reds by having a noticeable purple tint, making it deeper and more intense than many standard reds. The colour is represented by the hex code #CF1020, which matches the vivid hue seen in newly erupted molten rock.
Where does Lava come from?
The name 'lava' comes from its resemblance to the colour of volcanic lava as it emerges from a volcano. The first known use of the word 'lava' to describe this colour in English dates back to 1891. The colour is not tied to any particular country or culture, but rather to the natural phenomenon of volcanic activity.
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 Lava
A related shade is 'dark lava', which represents the colour of lava that has cooled and started to solidify into rock. Dark lava shares its colour coordinates with taupe, a neutral shade that became known in English in the early 19th century.
Colours that go with Lava
Harmonies are worked out from the value #CF1020. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Lava
What colour is lava?
Lava is a purplish shade of red, matching the look of fresh molten lava as it pours from a volcano.
Where does the name 'lava' for this colour come from?
The name comes from the colour of volcanic lava, specifically the vivid red seen when it first erupts.
When was lava first used as a colour name?
The first recorded use of 'lava' as a colour name in English was in 1891.
Are there variations of the lava colour?
Yes, 'dark lava' is a related shade that matches the colour of cooled lava and is identical to taupe.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Lava (color)", 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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