What color is #B59E59?

#B59E59 is a desaturated yellow, closest to the named color Kathmandu. It belongs to the brown family of colors.

What is the RGB value of #B59E59?

The RGB value is 181, 158, 89: 181 red, 158 green and 89 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.

What is the complementary color of #B59E59?

The complementary color is #5970B5, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.

Is black or white text better on #B59E59?

Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 8:1 and white text 2.63:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.

#B59E59 color

#B59E59 rgb(181, 158, 89)

Shades of brown

The hex color #B59E59 is a desaturated yellow.

In the RGB color model it is made of 71% red, 62% green and 34.9% blue (181, 158, 89).

Its hue angle is 45°, with 38% saturation and 53% lightness. For print, the CMYK equivalent is 0% cyan, 13% magenta, 51% yellow and 29% black.

The closest named color is Kathmandu (#AD9A5D), a difference of 2.3 ΔE, a small difference.

Black text is the more readable choice on this background (contrast 8:1).

#B59E59 color codes

HEX	`#B59E59`
RGB	`rgb(181, 158, 89)`
RGB percent	`rgb(71%, 62%, 34.9%)`
HSL	`hsl(45, 38%, 53%)`
HSV / HSB	`hsv(45, 51%, 71%)`
CMYK	`cmyk(0%, 13%, 51%, 29%)`
CIE LAB	`lab(65.75, -0.63, 38.9)`
CIE LCH	`lch(65.75, 38.91, 90.93)`
CIE XYZ	`xyz(33.087, 35, 14.462)`
Decimal	`11902553`
Short hex	`None (no 3-digit form)`

Color harmonies

Colors that go with #B59E59, 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 #B59E59	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	8:1	Pass	Pass	Pass
Sample text	2.63:1	Fail	Fail	Fail

#B59E59 as text on	Ratio	AA	AAA	AA large
Sample text	2.63:1	Fail	Fail	Fail
Sample text	8:1	Pass	Pass	Pass

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 #B59E59 looks to people with the most common types of color vision deficiency.

CSS examples

.background { background-color: #b59e59; }
.text { color: #b59e59; }
.border { border: 2px solid #b59e59; }
.transparent { background-color: rgb(181 158 89 / 50%); }
.gradient { background: linear-gradient(to right, #b59e59, #9eb559); }

Background

Text color

Border

Similar colors

Closest common color name: Ecru.

Questions

What color is #B59E59?: #B59E59 is a desaturated yellow, closest to the named color Kathmandu. It belongs to the brown family of colors.
What is the RGB value of #B59E59?: The RGB value is 181, 158, 89: 181 red, 158 green and 89 blue on a 0 to 255 scale.
What is the complementary color of #B59E59?: The complementary color is #5970B5, found by rotating the hue 180° on the color wheel.
Is black or white text better on #B59E59?: Black text. Black text has a contrast ratio of 8:1 and white text 2.63:1. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text.