Bisque
A luminous, mellow, and warm orange-beige
Bisque is a luminous, unsaturated orange-beige that feels mellow and warm. Because it is so light and desaturated, this color functions best as a soft background or a supporting neutral base. Use #ffe4c4 alongside deep charcoal or matte black text to maximize readability, as black provides excellent contrast. This hex code works well in minimal UI designs where plain white feels too sterile or harsh.
About Bisque
Unbleached linen left out in the afternoon sun
What does bisque mean?
Bisque commonly brings to mind baked goods, unglazed pottery, and dry grass, so it often reads as homey and warm. Its near-white lightness and faint orange keep it mellow.
Where you see bisque
- oatmeal
- unglazed pottery
- wheat
- sand
- shortbread
- parchment paper
What it works for
It works well as a warm background that holds darker text and richer colors without competing for attention.
What colors go with bisque?
Terracotta #e2725bTwo earthen warm tones stack into a layered, sun-baked look that stays soft.Sage #9caf88The muted green cools bisque's warmth and keeps both colors from feeling flat.Navy #000080Deep blue gives bisque a crisp anchor and makes its lightness stand out.Olive #808000Olive's earthy yellow-green shares bisque's warmth while adding needed depth.Charcoal #36454fThe dark gray strips out hue, so bisque carries all the warmth in the pair.
Questions about Bisque
What is the hex code for Bisque?
Bisque is #ffe4c4. In RGB that is rgb(255, 228, 196), in HSL hsl(33, 100%, 88%) and in CMYK 0%, 11%, 23%, 0%.
Is #ffe4c4 suitable for body text?
Using Bisque for body text is generally not recommended as it lacks sufficient contrast against standard white backgrounds, violating basic accessibility guidelines. It is far more effective as a gentle background color that supports dark, readable typography.
Is Bisque readable on white or black?
Bisque has a 1.22:1 contrast ratio on white and 17.14:1 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.