Khaki vs Taupe

Khaki and Taupe are both oranges, but they are not the same color: the measured difference between their classic values is ΔE 4.1, close: they read as matching at a glance.

Khaki

RGB: 195, 176, 145
HSL: 37, 29%, 67%
OKLCH: 76.5% 0.048 80.0

Temperature: warm

Closest encyclopedia entry: Khaki

Taupe

RGB: 185, 162, 129
HSL: 35, 29%, 62%
OKLCH: 72.4% 0.053 76.7

Temperature: warm

Closest encyclopedia entry: Taupe

Measured difference: ΔE 4.1 · close: they read as matching at a glance. ΔE is a measure of perceived color difference; below 2.3 most people can't tell colors apart.

Guide

How to tell Khaki and Taupe apart

1 Khaki is measurably lighter (4 points of OKLCH lightness). Squint: the one that survives is Taupe.
2 Check them against a true neutral gray: subtle undertones surface immediately next to something with no undertone at all.

Guide

When to use which

Khaki is a surface color: it needs a dark background before it can carry text.

Taupe is a surface color: it needs a dark background before it can carry text.

Palettes

Their palettes, side by side

Khaki complementary palette

Taupe complementary palette

Khaki analogous palette

Taupe analogous palette

FAQ

FAQs

Are Khaki and Taupe the same color?

No. Using their classic reference values, they differ by ΔE 4.1 (a measure of perceived color difference; below 2.3 most people can't tell colors apart). That makes them close: they read as matching at a glance.

Which is darker, Khaki or Taupe?

Taupe is darker: 4 points lower in OKLCH lightness than Khaki.