#856C42 Hex Color
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This dusty, unsaturated brown carries strong olive and yellow undertones. Because it sits on the darker side of neutral, #856c42 functions best as a grounding 30% supporting tone rather than a background. It pairs exceptionally well with muted slate blues for a sophisticated, earthy palette. Use this hex code for outdoor branding or vintage themes where readability matters, as white text provides necessary contrast against its depth.
Questions about #856c42
What is #856c42 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #856c42 is rgb(133, 108, 66), in HSL hsl(38, 34%, 39%) and in CMYK 0%, 19%, 50%, 48%. Browse more shades of brown with names and hex codes.
What colors pair best with #856c42?
#856c42 works best with muted tones that share its low-saturation, earthy quality. It looks particularly sophisticated alongside slate blue or warm cream, which allows the olive undertones to pop without making the design feel too heavy or overly dark.
Is #856c42 suitable for web typography?
While #856c42 is excellent for buttons, borders, or secondary graphic elements, it lacks sufficient contrast for standard body text against a white background. Always prioritize high-contrast, dark-colored text like charcoal or pure black when placing readable copy over this shade.
Is #856c42 readable on white or black?
#856c42 has a 4.97:1 contrast ratio on white and 4.22:1 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.