Brown
Also known as: Nutmeg Wood Finish , Bestial Brown , Beasty Brown , Philippine Bronze
Part of the brown family, Brown pairs a rich base with a warm and rustic presence. It belongs in leather goods and autumn design. Match it with blue accents when the design calls for energy over calm. Accessibility-wise, it clears AA for text on white at 10.00:1.
Reference
Brown color codes
- HEX
- #653700
- RGB
- rgb(101, 55, 0)
- RGBA
- rgba(101, 55, 0, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(33, 100%, 20%)
- HSV
- hsv(33, 100%, 40%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 46%, 100%, 60%)
- LAB
- lab(28.5 18.3 38.7)
- OKLCH
- oklch(38.6% 0.089 61.8)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
Undertone
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warm
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- CSS: saddlebrown #8B4513 · ΔE 9.4
- RAL 8008: Olive brown #6F4F28 · ΔE 8.5 · approximate
RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck. Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.
Where Brown works
- Web & UI: Dark enough for body text and icons on white backgrounds. It passes WCAG AA as-is.
- Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
- Fashion: A wardrobe neutral: it anchors outfits and pairs with nearly any accent color.
- Branding: Craft and heritage material: coffee, leather goods, and premium packaging live here.
- Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece, a top, scarf, or shoes, against neutral basics.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Brown
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →Palettes built from Brown by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 10.00:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 2.10:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Brown background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Brown
Brown with its complement
Soft neighbors of Brown
Brown triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Meatloaf #663311 · ΔE 5.4
- Walnut #773F1A · ΔE 6.4
- Pineapple #563C0D · ΔE 6.8
- Cafe Royale #6A4928 · ΔE 7.4
- Pumpernickel #6C462D · ΔE 8.5
- Evil Cigar #522000 · ΔE 9.5
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Brown is closest to Sea Paint .
FAQ
Brown FAQs
What color is Brown?
Brown is a dark brown with the hex code #653700. In HSL terms it has a hue of 33°, 100% saturation, and 20% lightness.
What is the hex code for Brown?
The hex code for Brown is #653700. In RGB it's rgb(101, 55, 0), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 46%, 100%, 60%).
What colors go well with Brown?
Brown pairs naturally with blue tones from its complementary harmony, and with cyan accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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