Brown color code is #A52A2A. Use this page to get all code formats, explore shades and tints, and find colors that work with brown.
Relative luminance of Brown is 0.0982. Its WCAG contrast ratio is 7.08:1 against white and 2.96:1 against black. Use the card with the higher ratio for body text.
Practical guidance for using brown (#A52A2A) across four design contexts, derived from its hue, lightness, saturation, and WCAG contrast.
Use Brown (#A52A2A) as primary text or icon color on white backgrounds — at 7.1:1 contrast it passes WCAG AAA for body copy. Avoid placing brown text on dark surfaces; the contrast drops below the AA threshold.
As a brand color, Brown (#A52A2A) reads as balanced and approachable and versatile across product tiers. It fits naturally into food, alerts, sports, romance, energy drinks. Pair it with a higher-contrast accent (warm if red runs cool, cool if it runs warm) for visual hierarchy. Test legibility on both your logo and small UI text before locking it in — saturation that works on a 200px logo can feel overpowering at favicon scale.
Brown flatters warm-leaning skin tones (golden, peach, olive undertones) and works well in spring/summer collections. It pairs naturally with warm neutrals (cream, camel, brown, olive) and contrasts effectively with denim or navy. As an accent piece — scarf, bag, shoes — brown can carry an entire neutral outfit; as a head-to-toe color it can overwhelm and is best reserved for evening or statement pieces.
Brown works as either a primary wall color or a strong accent — versatile across most rooms. As a wall color it pairs with white trim and warm wood; as an accent (sofa, chair, large art) it lifts a neutral room without overwhelming it. Test a large swatch against your room's natural light at three times of day before committing — mid-tone colors shift more than light or dark colors do.
Major brands whose official palette contains a color within ~30 RGB units of brown (#A52A2A). Click through for the full brand color guide.