Root Beer
Also known as: Red Rooster, Vandyck Brown, Potter’s Rock, Beauty Patch
With its warm undertone, Root Beer (#81544A) comes across as cozy and dependable. Designers reach for it 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).
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)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
warm
Nearest standard colors
- 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, empty-state illustrations — not text.
- Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece — a top, scarf, or shoes — against neutral basics.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Root Beer
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
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
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 6.36:1
AA passAAA failAA large pass
Aa — on black
contrast 3.30:1
AA failAAA failAA large pass
Best text color on a Root Beer background: #ffffff
Palettes featuring Root Beer
Root Beer with its complement
Soft neighbors of Root Beer
Root Beer triad
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.
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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