#856240 Hex Color
Warm earthy brown with artisanal roots
#856240 is a muted, dusty brown with strong warm undertones. Its low saturation gives it a reliable, earthy quality perfect for branding in agriculture or artisanal crafts. Use this color as a supporting tone rather than a background, as it can appear muddy in large areas. Pair it with soft cream for better legibility, as white text provides the necessary 5.5:1 contrast for clear readability.
Questions about #856240
What is #856240 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #856240 is rgb(133, 98, 64), in HSL hsl(30, 35%, 39%) and in CMYK 0%, 26%, 52%, 48%.
Is #856240 a good choice for text or backgrounds?
Avoid using #856240 as a large-scale background, as its muted, low-saturation tone can appear muddy and strain the eyes. It works best as an accent color or in branding, provided you use high-contrast text like soft cream for legibility.
Which colors complement #856240?
This warm brown pairs effectively with light, creamy neutrals or soft sage tones to enhance its natural, artisanal feel. Avoid pairing it with high-vibrancy neons, as these will overwhelm the color's subtle, grounded character and make the palette feel disjointed.
Is #856240 readable on white or black?
#856240 has a 5.49:1 contrast ratio on white and 3.81:1 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 works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold). Try other pairs in the contrast checker.