#553C39 Hex Color
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Dark and heavily muted, #553c39 is a dusky reddish tone with brown-gray undertones. Its low saturation gives layouts a serious, grounded mood, while the warm red base adds restrained energy. Use the hex code as a supporting tone for moody branding, food packaging, or sports graphics rather than large flat areas. White text reaches about a 10:1 contrast ratio.
Questions about #553c39
What is #553c39 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #553c39 is rgb(85, 60, 57), in HSL hsl(6, 20%, 28%) and in CMYK 0%, 29%, 33%, 67%.
Does #553c39 read as a warm or cool color?
#553c39 reads as a warm, muted red because its reddish base outweighs its brown-gray undertones, while low saturation keeps the warmth restrained and gives the shade a dusky, serious character. It works well when a layout needs grounded energy rather than a bright or highly expressive red.
What colors pair well with #553c39?
Pair #553c39 with warm neutrals, softened green, or subdued orange accents to balance its dusky red base; sage adds muted natural contrast, while terracotta creates a warmer, tone-on-tone direction for packaging, editorial layouts, and brand accents.
Is #553c39 readable on white or black?
#553c39 has a 10.03:1 contrast ratio on white and 2.09:1 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.