Buff
A warm, desaturated yellow with earthy appeal
Buff is a mellow, desaturated yellow that feels approachable and soft. It functions best as a supporting background rather than a dominant primary, as it can look washed out in large blocks. Pair this tone with charcoal gray or dark navy for a modern look. The hex code is #f0dc82, which provides excellent contrast for standard black body text.
About Buff
Butter softening on a warm cornbread edge
What does buff mean?
Buffed leather gave this color its name, and it often suggests soft light, ripe grain, and easygoing warmth. Its high lightness and gentle saturation make it feel mellow and glowing, like warm light that never glares.
Where you see buff
- churned butter
- beeswax candles
- straw hats
- corn kernels
- chamomile tea
- buttermilk pancakes
What it works for
It works for kitchen walls, nursery textiles, wedding stationery, and small accent details that need warmth without loudness.
What colors go with buff?
Sage Green #9caf88Both colors are soft and muted, so neither one competes for attention.Charcoal #36454fThe dark gray grounds the pale yellow and keeps it from reading too sweet.Dusty Rose #b56f76Warm pink beside warm yellow creates a soft, slightly vintage mood.Navy #000080Deep blue against pale yellow gives strong contrast that still feels friendly.Terracotta #e2725bTwo warm tones layered together feel earthy and sunlit.
Questions about Buff
What is the hex code for Buff?
Buff is #f0dc82. In RGB that is rgb(240, 220, 130), in HSL hsl(49, 79%, 73%) and in CMYK 0%, 8%, 46%, 6%.
Is Buff readable on white or black?
Buff has a 1.37:1 contrast ratio on white and 15.26:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it is too faint for text and on black it works for body text. Try other pairs in the contrast checker.