#221B17 Hex Color
Online color picker to view shades, tints, color codes, and complementary colors
With its very low lightness and muted, ashy brown undertones, #221b17 feels gloomy, serious, and grounded. The hex code suits dark backgrounds, vintage branding, coffee and chocolate packaging, and artisan products. Use it as a dominant base with warm cream or dusty rose, while white text provides strong readability at about 17:1 contrast.
Questions about #221b17
What is #221b17 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #221b17 is rgb(34, 27, 23), in HSL hsl(22, 19%, 11%) and in CMYK 0%, 21%, 32%, 87%.
What colors pair well with #221b17?
The dark brown #221b17 pairs well with warm cream for readable contrast, while dusty rose softens its grounded character; muted tan and terracotta add rustic warmth without competing with the base.
Where does #221b17 work best in design?
#221b17 works best as a dominant background or anchor color in vintage branding, coffee and chocolate packaging, editorial layouts, and artisan products. Balance it with lighter warm tones, because its very low lightness can make smaller layouts feel heavy.
Is #221b17 readable on white or black?
#221b17 has a 16.97:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.23:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it is too faint for text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.