Cobre
A mellow, earthy brown with orange warmth
Cobre is a mellow, muted orange with deep brown undertones. This earthy, vintage shade works best as a supporting tone rather than a large background, where it can easily feel heavy. Pair it with soft cream for a balanced, retro aesthetic. Since it meets accessibility standards, white text remains readable on this hex code, #996515.
About Cobre
An old penny dulled by rain and years
What does cobre mean?
Cobre is Spanish for copper, so the color often calls to mind metalwork, coins, cookware, and the green-blue patina that forms on aged copper roofs. The low saturation and medium darkness keep it mellow and grounded, closer to dried leaves and warm soil than to a bright flame.
Where you see cobre
- copper pots
- leather saddles
- fallen oak leaves
- rusty hinges
- adobe walls
- cinnamon sticks
What it works for
Use it for accents that need warmth without noise, such as leather goods, pottery glazes, autumn packaging, or interior trim.
What colors go with cobre?
Sage Green #9caf88The muted green cools the brown without fighting its earthy tone.Cream #fffdd0A pale neutral lifts the color and keeps it from turning muddy.Slate Blue #6a5acdThe cool blue sits opposite on the wheel, so both colors read richer.Forest Green #154406Two dark, natural shades together suggest forests, bark, and moss.Dusty Rose #b56f76The soft pink shares its muted warmth and adds a gentle contrast.Charcoal #36454fNear-black gives the mid-dark brown a crisp edge to lean on.
Questions about Cobre
What is the hex code for Cobre?
Cobre is #996515. In RGB that is rgb(153, 101, 21), in HSL hsl(36, 76%, 34%) and in CMYK 0%, 34%, 86%, 40%.
What color palettes work best with Cobre #996515?
Cobre pairs beautifully with creamy whites or soft neutrals to balance its deep, earthy warmth. For a more sophisticated, retro-inspired aesthetic, try using it alongside deep charcoal or muted olive tones to ground the orange base.
How should I use Cobre #996515 in web design?
Use #996515 primarily as an accent or secondary color rather than a large background field, where it might feel visually heavy. It maintains good contrast with white text, making it a reliable choice for buttons or borders.
Is Cobre readable on white or black?
Cobre has a 4.96:1 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.