#40221B Hex Color
A somber matte red with dusty depth
This matte, dark red carries a dusty, muted character that avoids the brightness of traditional reds. Because it feels somber and serious, it serves best as a supporting tone rather than a dominant background. Pair #40221b with off-white or cream text to maximize legibility, as the 14.4:1 contrast ratio provides excellent readability for small, dense body copy.
Questions about #40221b
What is #40221b in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #40221b is rgb(64, 34, 27), in HSL hsl(11, 41%, 18%) and in CMYK 0%, 47%, 58%, 75%.
Does #40221b function better as a background or accent?
The somber, serious nature of this shade makes it ideal as a supporting tone or accent rather than a dominant background. It provides necessary weight to layouts, helping to ground brighter elements without overwhelming the viewer with an intense, saturated red.
Is #40221b readable on white or black?
#40221b has a 14.35:1 contrast ratio on white and 1.46:1 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.