Reactive Red 2 is primarily used in the textile industry for dyeing cellulosic fibers such as cotton, rayon, and linen. It forms a strong covalent bond with the fiber under alkaline conditions, resulting in excellent color fastness to washing and light exposure. This dye is especially valued in batch dyeing processes where bright red shades are required.

It is also applied in the printing of fabrics using screen and roller printing methods, where precise color reproduction and sharp patterns are needed. Due to its reactive nature, it shows good fixation rates, minimizing dye wastage and reducing effluent color load when properly controlled.

Reactive Red 2 is occasionally used in paper dyeing and leather coloring, though its main application remains in cotton-based textile manufacturing. Its solubility in water allows for easy formulation in dye baths, and it performs well in low-salt dyeing systems, supporting more environmentally friendly processing.