Color guide · Earth & brown colors

Tan Color

Tan is a pale warm brown with a useful place between ivory and darker earth colors. It can be a surface, a cloth base or a highlight on wood. Its lightness calls for darker text rather than pale labels.

A light warm brown for material-led palettes#D2B48CCSS keyword: tan

Tan color codes

HEX#D2B48C
RGBrgb(210, 180, 140)
HSLhsl(34.3, 43.7%, 68.6%)
CSS keywordtan

RGB values use the 0–255 scale. HSL values are rounded to one decimal place for display. CSS Color: named colors ↗

The name & the reference

What makes tan interesting?

CSS tan is #D2B48C. Fabrics, sand and finished wood have their own variation, so the keyword is a convenient palette reference instead of a physical standard. Try tan next to warm ivory and darker brown to see how the same midtone changes its apparent weight.

Read the reference: CSS Color: named colors ↗

Things with tan tones

These illustrated references explore a color family. Objects vary; none is a claim of an exact #D2B48C match.

Illustrated placeholder · image coming later

Natural fabric inspiration

A woven reference adds texture and shadow to a light brown family.

Illustrated placeholder · image coming later

Warm paper and card

A tan background can support a material-led layout while darker type handles reading.

Illustrated placeholder · image coming later

Light wood details

Tan can work as a highlight on a darker wooden object.

Ideas for using tan

01

Interfaces

Try tan behind dark text in a small material-inspired card. Keep borders clearly visible.

02

Games

Use it for cloth or wood highlights while retaining deeper shadows for shape.

03

Interiors

Compare tan, ivory and green physical swatches under the room lighting before selecting a finish.

Watch out: Tan and ivory may have too little contrast for small text or important borders.

Tints, shades & companion hues

These tints and shades are simple sRGB channel mixes with white or black. They are useful starting points, not perceptually equal steps or guaranteed accessible pairs. Select a swatch to copy its hex code.

Hue companions

Calculated in HSL with the same saturation and lightness. Complementary and analogous colors suggest hue relationships; they do not promise contrast.

Palettes featuring tan

Earthwork

Warm browns with an explicit dark outline

Explore palette →

See the palette at work

Palette preview studio

Compare two colors →

Try a website, a game scene, a poster or a room. Pick a role, then select a swatch to repaint it. These are schematic design previews, not rendered materials or a game engine.

Text is automatically chosen as black or white for opaque preview surfaces. This does not certify your exported palette for every use.

Color & craftStories · Studio
A thoughtful starting point

Make something worth exploring.

A clear reading surface, one useful accent and room for the details.

Explore the collection →
Design notesNew ideasSmall details

Try it in context

Live design & contrast preview

Change the surface and text independently. The text result uses opaque sRGB colors; it does not evaluate your entire page.

10.65:1 · AAA normal text

AA normal text needs 4.5:1; AA large text needs 3:1. Large text means at least 18 pt, or 14 pt bold. Ratios are assessed before rounding. This is a text check, not a complete accessibility audit. W3C: understanding text contrast ↗

A little color goes a long way

Your next good idea

Try a readable heading, a short paragraph and a clear action on this surface.

Example action →Static design sample · use the controls to change it

Compare tan with another color →

Questions about tan

Is tan a good text color on ivory?

Measure the pair. It is better treated as a surface or decorative detail unless the required text contrast passes.

Will this look the same in print?

No exact print match is promised. Paper, ink, color profiles and lighting affect the result. Use a physical proof when a precise material match matters.

Can I use these codes in a website or game?

Yes. Copy the exact code, give it a clear role in your palette and test text contrast. Add labels or shapes when color communicates important information.

Keep exploring

Explore earth & brown colors →

#D2691E
Earth & brown colors

Chocolate

A warm orange-brown, lighter than a chocolate bar

Explore color →
#FFFFF0
Light & dark neutrals

Ivory

A near-white with a small warm shift

Explore color →
#36454F
Light & dark neutrals

Charcoal

A dark blue-gray for text and structure

Explore color →

A color name is a starting point

Digital codes describe sRGB colors. Natural objects, paint, ink and screens can look different under different lighting or calibration. Visual references illustrate color families rather than exact measured matches. Placeholder illustrations are clearly labeled. Design ideas are suggestions, not universal claims about emotion or culture.

Pick colors from an image · Convert a color · Check a complete text pair · Suggest a color guide