#AD4949 Hex Color
Online color picker to view shades, tints, color codes, and complementary colors
This muted brick red offers a grounded, earthy alternative to standard, aggressive reds. Because it is desaturated, the hex code #ad4949 functions best as a primary accent rather than a full background, where it can appear muddy. It pairs cleanly with soft creams or charcoal grays. Since white text reads clearly against this tone, it is a practical choice for bold headers or UI buttons.
Questions about #ad4949
What is #ad4949 in RGB, HSL and CMYK?
In RGB, #ad4949 is rgb(173, 73, 73), in HSL hsl(0, 41%, 48%) and in CMYK 0%, 58%, 58%, 32%.
What colors pair best with the #ad4949 brick red?
Soft creams and charcoal grays work exceptionally well with #ad4949 because they provide a neutral balance to its earthy intensity. Avoid pairing it with high-contrast neon shades, which can overwhelm the muted, grounded quality of this specific red tone.
Is #ad4949 suitable for text in user interfaces?
#ad4949 performs reliably as a text color only when placed against very light backgrounds, like off-white or cream. Always verify your contrast ratios, as the desaturated nature of this red might fail accessibility standards on medium-toned or colored backgrounds.
Is #ad4949 readable on white or black?
#ad4949 has a 5.48:1 contrast ratio on white and 3.82:1 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.