Taupe
Also known as: Curds and Whey, Sticks & Stones, With the Grain, Montecito
Taupe is what happens when orange turns soft and gentle. The effect is playful and vibrant, made 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.
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)
Color intelligence
Displays accurately on every screen and translates well to print.
Temperature
warm
Nearest standard colors
- 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 — dividers, chart series, 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 — front door, built-ins, or one bold wall.
Copy as — every ecosystem
Tints, shades, and tones of Taupe
Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Color harmonies
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
Contrast & accessibility
Aa — on white
contrast 2.46:1
AA failAAA failAA large fail
Aa — on black
contrast 8.55:1
AA passAAA passAA large pass
Best text color on a Taupe background: #000000
Palettes featuring Taupe
Taupe with its complement
Soft neighbors of Taupe
Taupe triad
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.
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.
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