It is often used as a tracer dye within water to determine the rate and direction of flow and transport.

Rhodamine dyes fluoresce and can thus be detected easily and inexpensively with fluorometers.

Rhodamine B (BV10) is mixed with quinacridone magenta (PR122) to make the bright pink watercolor known as Opera Rose.

In California, rhodamine B is suspected to be carcinogenic and thus products containing it must contain a warning on its label.

[16] Cases of economically motivated adulteration, where it has been illegally used to impart a red color to chili powder, have come to the attention of food safety regulators.