Root Beer
Also known as: Red Rooster , Vandyck Brown , Potter’s Rock , Beauty Patch
Root Beer is a medium, gentle brown that reads as cozy and dependable. It earns its place in autumn design and coffee and food branding. Match it with cyan accents when the design calls for energy over calm. It's dark enough to use for text on white backgrounds (6.36:1, passes WCAG AA).
Reference
Root Beer color codes
- HEX
- #81544A
- RGB
- rgb(129, 84, 74)
- RGBA
- rgba(129, 84, 74, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(11, 27%, 40%)
- HSV
- hsv(11, 43%, 51%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 35%, 43%, 49%)
- LAB
- lab(40.7 18.3 14.0)
- OKLCH
- oklch(49.3% 0.063 33.1)
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: sienna #A0522D · ΔE 11.3
- RAL 8002: Signal brown #7B5141 · ΔE 3.3 · 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 Root Beer 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 Root Beer
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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 Root Beer 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 6.36:1
AA pass AAA fail AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 3.30:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large pass
Best text color on a Root Beer background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Root Beer
Root Beer with its complement
Soft neighbors of Root Beer
Root Beer triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Roasted #785246 · ΔE 2.8
- Wild West #7E5C52 · ΔE 3.9
- Nutmeg #7E4A3B · ΔE 4.0
- Annatto #8C5341 · ΔE 4.3
- Sly Fox #804741 · ΔE 4.8
- Bigfoot #715145 · ΔE 5.0
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Root Beer is closest to Mediterranea .
FAQ
Root Beer FAQs
What color is Root Beer?
Root Beer is a medium brown with the hex code #81544A. In HSL terms it has a hue of 11°, 27% saturation, and 40% lightness.
What is the hex code for Root Beer?
The hex code for Root Beer is #81544A. In RGB it's rgb(129, 84, 74), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 35%, 43%, 49%).
What colors go well with Root Beer?
Root Beer pairs naturally with cyan tones from its complementary harmony. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.
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