Brown runs from warm, coppery tones like Cobre (#996515) and Sienna (#a0522d) down to deep, near-black tones like Ancient Lavastone (#483c32) and Bistre (#3d2b1f), with classic mid-range browns such as Raw Umber (#826644), Milk Chocolate (#84563c), and Burnt Umber (#8a3324) in between. Every shade below lists its hex code. Click any swatch to copy the code or open its RGB, CMYK, and HSL values and the palette generator. To mix one in paint, see what colors make brown, or turn any hex into a full tint and shade scale with the color shades generator.
26 shades of brown with their names and hex codes, lightest to darkest
Cobre is a warm, metallic-inspired shade of brown that captures the essence of polished copper ore. This rich, earthy hue carries a subtle golden undertone, making it an excellent choice for designs that require a touch of natural warmth or organic sophistication. Its mid-tone depth provides a versatile alternative to standard neutrals, pairing beautifully with deep creams, forest greens, and muted terracotta. Whether used as a primary accent or a textured background element, Cobre adds a grounded, inviting quality to artistic projects.
Mahogany is a rich, reddish-brown hue that captures the warmth and depth of fine-grained hardwood. This sophisticated shade bridges the gap between deep earth tones and vibrant fire-inspired pigments, making it an excellent choice for adding weight and elegance to a design palette. Because of its strong saturation and bold character, Mahogany works effectively as an accent color to ground lighter elements or as a primary shade to evoke a sense of tradition, luxury, and organic comfort.
Raw Umber is a warm, earthy brown with the hex code #826644. Its muted, natural tone evokes weathered wood, soil, and clay, making it a dependable choice for grounded, organic designs. Slightly desaturated but rich in warmth, it pairs well with creams, tans, and deeper browns. Artists and designers alike will find it useful for adding depth and a rustic, understated feel to palettes without overpowering brighter hues.
Sienna is a warm, earthy reddish-brown that draws its inspiration from the natural pigment found in raw earth. This rich, medium-dark tone evokes the feeling of autumnal landscapes, terracotta pottery, and weathered stone. Its grounded quality makes it an excellent choice for designers looking to add a sense of stability, comfort, and rustic elegance to their palettes. Because of its subtle orange undertones, Sienna pairs beautifully with cool blues or soft creams, offering a versatile anchor for both traditional and contemporary design projects.
Milk Chocolate is a warm, medium-dark brown that brings to mind the sweetness of its namesake treat. With its balanced mix of brown and soft red undertones, this shade feels comforting and inviting without being too heavy. It works beautifully as a base color in design, pairing well with creams, caramels, and muted golds for a cozy, natural palette. Whether used in branding, interiors, or artwork, Milk Chocolate adds warmth and richness while remaining grounded and easy on the eyes.
Brown is a warm, earthy color with a rich, grounded feel. The hex code #964b00 leans toward deep amber and rust tones, carrying a strong orange undertone that gives it warmth and depth. This shade evokes natural materials like wood, leather, and soil, making it a popular choice for designs that aim to feel organic, reliable, and comforting. In design work, Brown pairs beautifully with cream, beige, and muted greens, and it works well as a foundation color that grounds brighter accents.
Saddle Brown is a deep, rich, and earthy tone that captures the essence of well-worn leather and natural timber. This rich color carries a strong reddish-brown undertone, offering a warm and grounding presence in any design palette. Because of its organic feel, it serves as an excellent anchor color, providing a reliable and sophisticated structure when paired with lighter neutrals or vibrant accent shades.
Wenge is a deep, muted brown with subtle gray undertones, captured by the hex code #645452. Named after the tropical wood often used in fine furniture and flooring, this shade carries a warm, earthy quality that feels both grounded and refined. Its muted character makes it an excellent alternative to pure black or charcoal when a softer, more natural depth is needed. Designers often reach for Wenge in interior palettes, branding, and editorial layouts where a touch of organic sophistication is desired. Pair it with creams, warm tans, or soft whites to let its richness stand out without overwhelming a composition.
Cigar Brown is a deep, earthy brown with warm reddish undertones, evoking the rich tones of aged tobacco leaves and weathered leather. Its muted quality makes it a versatile choice for designs that call for warmth without brightness, pairing beautifully with creams, tans, and soft golds. Whether used in rustic branding, interior palettes, or autumn-inspired artwork, Cigar Brown brings a grounded, sophisticated feel to any composition.
Chocoholic is a deep, rich brown that evokes the indulgence of high-quality dark chocolate. With its warm, earthy undertones and saturated appearance, this shade brings a sense of stability and comfort to any design palette. It functions beautifully as a grounding element in sophisticated layouts, offering a luxurious, organic alternative to standard black or charcoal. Whether used as a primary background color or an elegant accent, Chocoholic adds a smooth, decadent texture to branding and creative projects.
Coffee is a rich, warm brown that captures the deep, toasted tones of freshly roasted beans. This hue sits firmly in the medium-dark range of the brown spectrum, offering a grounded and organic feel that works exceptionally well as a neutral anchor in design palettes. Its balanced saturation makes it a versatile choice for creating a cozy, sophisticated aesthetic, whether you are using it for elegant typography, subtle background textures, or natural-looking illustrative elements.
Russet is a warm, earthy shade of brown with distinct reddish undertones that evoke the feeling of autumn leaves, rich soil, and textured leather. This rich color carries a sense of reliability and groundedness, making it an excellent choice for designs that require a touch of natural, rustic character. Because of its deep saturation, Russet works beautifully as a grounding accent or a primary hue in palettes that aim to feel organic, welcoming, and timeless.
Gobo Brown is a deep, earthy brown that feels both grounded and sophisticated. This shade captures the essence of raw materials, bringing to mind the rich textures of tree bark, aged leather, or dark, fertile soil. Because of its muted, neutral undertones, it works exceptionally well as a grounding element in design projects where a balance of warmth and stability is needed. It sits comfortably alongside other natural tones, making it an ideal choice for backgrounds, typography, or accent elements that require a subtle, organic touch.
Walnut Brown is a muted, earthy brown with subtle gray undertones, captured by the hex code #5c5248. Its understated warmth makes it a versatile choice for backgrounds, typography, and natural-themed designs. Less saturated than richer browns, Walnut Brown brings a calm, grounded quality to a palette and pairs beautifully with creams, soft greens, and warm neutrals. Designers often reach for it when they want depth without overwhelming brightness.
Burnt Umber is a deep, earthy brown with warm reddish undertones, represented by the hex code #8a3324. Named after the natural pigment that has been a staple in artists’ palettes for centuries, this color brings to mind baked clay, rich soil, and rustic wood. Its muted intensity makes it a versatile choice for designers seeking a grounded, organic feel, whether used in branding, interiors, or digital artwork. Pair Burnt Umber with creams, tans, or soft greens to create warm, inviting color schemes that feel both timeless and natural.
Hazelnut Chocolate is a deep, rich brown that evokes the warmth of roasted nuts and smooth, velvety cocoa. As a dark, earthy tone with subtle reddish undertones, it feels grounded and indulgent, making it an excellent choice for designs that require a sense of sophistication and comfort. This shade pairs beautifully with cream or beige for a classic look, or it can provide a striking, natural contrast when placed alongside soft greens or muted blues in a color palette. Its versatility makes it a reliable staple for branding, interior accents, or any project aiming for an organic, timeless aesthetic.
Walnut is a rich, earthy brown that anchors a palette with natural warmth and reliable stability. This shade captures the deep, toasted tones of dark hardwoods, evoking a sense of organic sophistication and timeless comfort. Because of its medium-dark saturation, it serves as an excellent foundational hue, providing enough contrast to highlight lighter accents while maintaining a grounded, professional presence in both digital and print design.
Sepia is a rich, warm brown that evokes the nostalgic aesthetic of vintage photography and classic ink drawings. With its deep, earthy undertones, this shade offers a sense of history and organic grounding, making it a versatile choice for designs that require a touch of traditional warmth or a textured, natural feel. It serves as an excellent neutral, providing depth to palettes without the starkness of black or the coolness of gray.
Kobicha is a deep, earthy brown with warm undertones, represented by the hex code #6b4423. This rich shade evokes the tones of dark roasted coffee, aged leather, and rich soil, making it a grounded and versatile choice for design work. Its muted depth works well as a base color in palettes, pairing nicely with creams, tans, and muted greens. Designers often reach for Kobicha when they want to convey warmth, stability, and a natural, organic feel without the heaviness of darker browns.
Sable is a deep, muted brown with subtle red undertones, giving it a warm, earthy richness. Its dark, grounded character makes it a versatile choice for designs that need depth without drifting into pure black. In branding and interiors, Sable pairs beautifully with creams, tans, and soft golds, adding a sense of warmth and sophistication. Whether used as a primary tone or a supporting shade, it brings a cozy, natural feel to any palette.
Carafe is a deep, warm brown that evokes the comfort of a freshly brewed cup of dark roast coffee or the rich, textured tones of aged leather. As a sophisticated neutral, it grounds a color palette with its stable, earthy presence and subtle red undertones. Designers often turn to Carafe when they need to add weight or warmth to a composition without the starkness of black. It pairs well with creamy whites, soft terracotta, or muted teals, making it a versatile choice for both modern branding and traditional interior design schemes.
Smokey Topaz is a deep, earthy reddish-brown that carries a warm, rustic richness. With its muted intensity, this shade evokes burnt clay, aged leather, and smoldering embers. It works beautifully as an accent color in earthy palettes, pairing well with creams, tans, and muted golds. Designers often reach for Smokey Topaz when they want a brown that feels grounded yet full of warmth, making it a versatile choice for branding, interior design, and natural-themed artwork.
Pitch Mary Brown is a deep, grounded shade of brown that exudes a sense of reliability and earthy sophistication. With its rich, dark undertones, this color captures the essence of raw umber and polished mahogany, making it an excellent choice for adding depth and weight to a design palette. Because of its dark, neutral nature, Pitch Mary Brown works exceptionally well as an anchoring element in both web layouts and artistic compositions, providing a subtle warmth that contrasts beautifully with lighter creams, soft terracottas, or even vibrant teals.
Chestnut is a deep, warm reddish brown with rich earthy undertones. The hex color #742802 brings a grounded, autumnal feel to palettes and works well for adding warmth, depth, and natural character to designs.
Ancient Lavastone is a deep, muted brown that evokes the rugged texture and timeless permanence of cooled volcanic rock. Its dark, earthy undertones offer a sense of grounded stability, making it a sophisticated choice for designs requiring a strong, neutral anchor. Because of its desaturated quality, this shade pairs well with warmer accents or crisp whites, providing a solid foundation for palettes that prioritize understated elegance and natural inspiration.
Bistre is a deep, earthy brown with warm undertones, carrying the hex value #3d2b1f. This rich shade sits near the darker end of the brown spectrum, evoking the feel of aged wood, rich soil, or roasted coffee beans. Its muted warmth makes Bistre a versatile choice for adding depth and grounding to a palette, pairing beautifully with creams, tans, and muted golds. Designers often reach for this color when they want a brown that feels cozy and substantial without becoming too heavy.
Bistre
How many shades of brown are there?
A screen can display millions of distinct brown values, since brown covers a wide span of hue, saturation, and lightness. This guide collects 26 named shades of brown to keep them practical to choose from. They range from coppery Cobre (#996515) to deep, near-black Bistre (#3d2b1f), and most of the names and values follow Wikipedia’s list of shades of brown.
What are the most popular shades of brown?
Common named browns include Burnt Umber (#8a3324), Raw Umber (#826644), Milk Chocolate (#84563c), Chestnut (#742802), Sepia (#704214), and Saddle Brown (#8b4513). They span warm reddish browns to cooler, earthy umbers. Click any swatch on this page to copy its hex code.
What is the darkest shade of brown?
The darkest shade of brown on this page is Bistre (#3d2b1f), a deep brown that reads close to black. Ancient Lavastone (#483c32) is the next darkest, followed by Chestnut (#742802). All three work well as text, shadow, or grounding tones.
What is the lightest shade of brown?
The lightest shade of brown here is Cobre (#996515), a coppery mid-brown with a golden cast, with Mahogany (#c04000) and Raw Umber (#826644) close behind. For paler tan and sand tones like Tan (#d2b48c) and Sandy Brown (#f4a460), see the guides to shades of orange and shades of yellow.
What is the hex code for brown?
There is no single official brown. A common reference value is #964b00, the classic brown on this page. In CSS, the named color brown is #a52a2a, a reddish brown, while saddlebrown (#8b4513) and sienna (#a0522d) are deeper and warmer.
What colors make brown?
Brown is essentially a dark, muted orange. Mix red and yellow to make orange, then dull and darken it with a little blue or black. Mixing any two complementary colors, such as orange and blue, also produces brown.
Found a brown you like? Click it to open the full color page, then send it to the palette generator to build a scheme around it, or drop it into the color picker to fine-tune the exact tone. If you’d rather start from a finished scheme, browse our brown color palettes.
