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Chestnut vs Brown: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Chestnut and Brown is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Brown is more saturated. Chestnut and Brown are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Chestnut (#954535) and Brown (#A52A2A) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Chestnut#954535
Brown#A52A2A
#954535Blended: #9D3830#A52A2A
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Chestnut vs Brown: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Chestnut Brown
BrightnessMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=41%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationModerately saturated (S=48%) — balanced in intensityModerately saturated (S=59%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#954535#A52A2A
RGB149, 69, 53165, 42, 42

Can you use Chestnut and Brown together?

Brown text on Chestnut
Chestnut text on Brown
Contrast Ratio:1.07:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Chestnut and Brown Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Brown looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 10° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Chestnut or Brown: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickBrown

Brown is more saturated (59% HSL vs 48%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Chestnut can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickBrown

Brown hits a 7.08:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Chestnut only reaches 6.60:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickBrown

Brown is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Chestnut leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickChestnut

Chestnut is the more muted of the two (48% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Brown's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Chestnut vs Brown in Design

Use Chestnut for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Brown for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion

Chestnut and Brown Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Chestnut#954535

Chestnut (#954535) is a medium, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Brown#A52A2A

Brown (#A52A2A) is a medium, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Chestnut and Brown WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview
Chestnut text on white
6.6:1AA
Sample text preview
Chestnut text on black
3.18:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Brown text on white
7.08:1AAA
Sample text preview
Brown text on black
2.96:1Fail
Sample text preview
Chestnut text on Brown
1.07:1Fail
Sample text preview
Brown text on Chestnut
1.07:1Fail

Explore Chestnut and Brown individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Brown color page#A52A2A · shades, tints, pairings

More Chestnut and Brown Comparisons

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Chestnut vs Brown FAQ

What is the difference between chestnut and brown?+
The main difference between Chestnut and Brown is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Brown is more saturated. Chestnut and Brown are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Chestnut (#954535) and Brown (#A52A2A) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is chestnut darker than brown?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Chestnut sits at 40% lightness and Brown at 41% — the difference is only 1 percentage points.
Are chestnut and brown the same color?+
No. Chestnut is #954535 and Brown is #A52A2A. They differ by 10° in hue, 1% in lightness, and 11% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, chestnut or brown?+
Brown is more saturated. In HSL, Chestnut has 48% saturation and Brown has 59% — Brown is the more vivid of the two, while Chestnut reads as more muted.
Is chestnut warm or cool?+
Chestnut (#954535) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 10° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is brown warm or cool?+
Brown (#A52A2A) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use chestnut and brown together?+
Yes. Both chestnut and brown are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use chestnut as the dominant color and brown as the accent or highlight.
What color family does chestnut belong to?+
Chestnut belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 10°, 48%, 40% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for chestnut?+
The hex code for Chestnut is #954535. In RGB, that's rgb(149, 69, 53), and in HSL it's hsl(10, 48%, 40%).
What is the hex code for brown?+
The hex code for Brown is #A52A2A. In RGB, that's rgb(165, 42, 42), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 59%, 41%).