Taupe
Also known as: Curds and Whey , Sticks & Stones , With the Grain , Montecito
A gentle orange with a playful and vibrant character, Taupe works well for friendly UI accents and children's products. Because it leans warm, balancing it with a blue keeps a palette from feeling one-note. Accessibility-wise, it needs a dark backdrop: 8.55:1 on black clears AA.
Reference
Taupe color codes
- HEX
- #B9A281
- RGB
- rgb(185, 162, 129)
- RGBA
- rgba(185, 162, 129, 1)
- HSL
- hsl(35, 29%, 62%)
- HSV
- hsv(35, 30%, 73%)
- CMYK
- cmyk(0%, 12%, 30%, 27%)
- LAB
- lab(68.0 5.0 20.5)
- OKLCH
- oklch(72.4% 0.053 76.7)
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: tan #D2B48C · ΔE 5.9
- RAL 1001: Beige #D0B084 · ΔE 5.6 · 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 Taupe works
- Web & UI: Use it decoratively for dividers, chart series, and illustration accents, and let neutrals carry the type.
- Interiors: Muted enough to paint all four walls; sample it in both daylight and evening light before committing.
- Fashion: One garment in this color carries an outfit; two starts to compete.
- Branding: Best in a brand's supporting palette: packaging interiors, patterns, campaign accents.
- Interiors: Use it where you want the eye to land: a front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Taupe
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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 Taupe 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 2.46:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Aa on black
contrast 8.55:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Best text color on a Taupe background: #000000
Palettes
Palettes featuring Taupe
Taupe with its complement
Soft neighbors of Taupe
Taupe triad
Explore
Similar colors
- French Oak #BB9E7C · ΔE 2.4
- Coffee Diva #BEA88D · ΔE 2.7
- Croissant #C4AB86 · ΔE 2.9
- Incense #AF9A7E · ΔE 2.9
- Oakwood #BDA58B · ΔE 3.0
- Bangalore #BBAA88 · ΔE 3.4
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Taupe is closest to Old World .
FAQ
Taupe FAQs
What color is Taupe?
Taupe is a medium orange with the hex code #B9A281. In HSL terms it has a hue of 35°, 29% saturation, and 62% lightness.
What is the hex code for Taupe?
The hex code for Taupe is #B9A281. In RGB it's rgb(185, 162, 129), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 12%, 30%, 27%).
What colors go well with Taupe?
Taupe 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.
Planning around this color? See everything that goes with Taupe : 10 computed pairings with palettes.
Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer . Free, private, on your device.