What color is #51281C?

#51281C is a dark, desaturated red, closest to the named color Couch. It belongs to the brown family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #51281C?

The RGB value is 81, 40, 28: 81 red, 40 green and 28 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #51281C?

The complementary color is #1C4551, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #51281C?

White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.67:1 and white text 12.57:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#51281C color

#51281C rgb(81, 40, 28)

Shades of brown

The hex color #51281C is a dark, desaturated red.

In the RGB color model it is made of 31.8% red, 15.7% green and 11% blue (81, 40, 28).

Its hue angle is 14°, with 49% saturation and 21% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 0% cyan, 51% magenta, 65% yellow and 68% black.

The closest named color is Couch (#4E2A20), a difference of 1.8 ΔE, which is barely visible.

White text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 12.57:1).

#51281C color codes

HEX	`#51281C`
RGB	`rgb(81, 40, 28)`
RGB percent	`rgb(31.8%, 15.7%, 11%)`
HSL	`hsl(14, 49%, 21%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(14, 65%, 32%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(0%, 51%, 65%, 68%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(21.4, 17.81, 16.37)`
CIE LCH	`lch(21.4, 24.19, 42.59)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(4.362, 3.351, 1.516)`
Decimal	`5318684`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #51281C, based on their position on the color wheel.

Complementary

The color opposite on the color wheel (180°). Strongest contrast.

Analogous

Neighbors 30° either side. Calm, natural combinations.

Split complementary

The two colors next to the complement (150° and 210°).

Triadic

Three colors evenly spaced, 120° apart.

Tetradic (square)

Four colors 90° apart.

Shades, tints and tones

Shades (darker, mixed with black)

Tints (lighter, mixed with white)

Tones (mixed with gray)

Contrast and accessibility

Text on #51281C	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	1.67:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	12.57:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

#51281C as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	12.57:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	1.67:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

WCAG 2 asks for 4.5:1 for normal text (AA), 7:1 for AAA, and 3:1 for large text. Check other pairs.

Color blindness simulation

How #51281C looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #51281c; }
.text { color: #51281c; }
.border { border: 2px solid #51281c; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(81 40 28 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #51281c, #51421c); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Espresso.

Questions

What color is #51281C?: #51281C is a dark, desaturated red, closest to the named color Couch. It belongs to the brown family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #51281C?: The RGB value is 81, 40, 28: 81 red, 40 green and 28 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #51281C?: The complementary color is #1C4551, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #51281C?: White text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 1.67:1 and white text 12.57:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.