Molasses
Also known as: Black Sand, Charred Hickory, Piano Brown, Smooth Coffee
A muted brown with a earthy and grounded character, Molasses works beautifully for coffee and food branding and rustic interiors. Reach for a cyan companion shade to give Molasses maximum contrast. Accessibility-wise, it clears AA for text on white at 8.48:1.
Molasses color codes
- HEX
- #574A47
- RGB
- rgb(87, 74, 71)
- RGBA
- rgba(87, 74, 71, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(11, 10%, 31%)
- HSV
- hsv(11, 18%, 34%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 15%, 18%, 66%)
- LAB
- lab(32.7 5.2 3.9)
- OKLCH
- oklch(42.1% 0.018 33.1)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
neutral, leaning warm
subtle red undertone in this near-neutral
Nearest standard colors
- CSS: dimgray#696969 · ΔE 12.3
- RAL 8019 — Grey brown#3F3A3A · ΔE 7.2 · 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 Molasses works
- Web & UI: Use it directly for text on light surfaces; it clears AA contrast without adjustment.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land — front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
- Fashion: Works as a base layer or outerwear tone that lets brighter pieces do the talking.
- Branding: As a brand anchor it reads established and tactile; pair with a single vivid accent for energy.
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively — dividers, chart series, illustration accents — and let neutrals carry the type.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Molasses
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
Palettes built from Molasses by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Complementary
Analogous
Triadic
Split-complementary
Tetradic
Monochromatic
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 8.48:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 2.48:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Best text color on a Molasses background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Molasses
Molasses with its complement
Soft neighbors of Molasses
Molasses triad
Similar colors
- Chinotto#554747 · ΔE 2.1
- Lynx#604D47 · ΔE 3.2
- Matterhorn#524B4B · ΔE 3.2
- Mustang#5E4A47 · ΔE 3.3
- Smokescreen#5E5755 · ΔE 5.1
- Bark#5F5854 · ΔE 5.6
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Molasses is closest to Obsidian.
Molasses FAQs
What color is Molasses?
Molasses is a dark brown with the hex code #574A47. In HSL terms it has a hue of 11°, 10% saturation, and 31% lightness.
What is the hex code for Molasses?
The hex code for Molasses is #574A47. In RGB it's rgb(87, 74, 71), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 15%, 18%, 66%).
What colors go well with Molasses?
Molasses pairs naturally with cyan tones from its complementary harmony, and with gray accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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