Brown color · XKCD survey name
Gray Brown Color Code: #7F7053
Gray Brown (#7F7053) is a medium-dark, muted orange shade: RGB 127, 112, 83, HSL 40°, 21%, 41%. White text reads comfortably on it (4.83:1 contrast).
Also spelled “Grey Brown”.
Gray Brown color values
#7F7053
rgb(127, 112, 83)
hsl(40, 21%, 41%)
40, 35%, 50%
hwb(40 33% 50%)
0%, 12%, 35%, 50%
8351827
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Gray Brown?
“Gray Brown” is a crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey, in which participants typed names for colors they were shown. It is a popular everyday label rather than an official standard.
Its hue angle of 40° places it in the orange part of the color wheel, with 21% saturation (muted) and 41% lightness (medium-dark). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other brown colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 46% of them and more saturated than 1% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.167, which makes it a mid-tone color. That is below the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so white text has the advantage.
Gray Brown counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 41% and its relative luminance is 0.167. White text reads comfortably on it (4.83:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Gray Brown
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 4.83:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 4.34:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Gray Brown
Complementary color
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They give the strongest hue contrast, which suits calls to action and accents.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors are neighbors on the wheel, 30° either side of the base hue. They blend smoothly and are easy to combine in backgrounds, gradients and illustrations.
Triadic colors
A triadic scheme uses three hues spaced 120° apart. It is lively yet balanced, and works best when one color leads and the other two act as accents.
Split-complementary colors
Split-complementary keeps the base color and uses the two colors on either side of its complement (150° and 210°). The contrast is strong but gentler than a direct complement.
Tetradic colors
A tetradic (rectangle) scheme combines two complementary pairs at 0°, 60°, 180° and 240°. It offers variety but needs one dominant color to stay balanced.
Monochromatic variants
Monochromatic variants keep the same hue and saturation and only change lightness, which makes them dependable for UI scales and subtle layered designs.
A “≈” before a name means the exact harmony color has no named match, so the link goes to the closest named color.
Tints and shades of Gray Brown
Lighter tints (mixed with white)
Darker shades (mixed with black)
Select any swatch to copy its HEX code. Build longer scales with the tints and shades tool.
Similar colors
Where to use Gray Brown
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (4.83:1 contrast)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Borders, wood-like textures and illustrations
- Earthy, natural palettes
- Packaging and craft-style layouts
Use Gray Brown in CSS
:root {
--color-gray-brown: #7F7053;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-gray-brown);
background-color: #7F7053;
border: 2px solid #7F7053;
}Questions about Gray Brown
What is the HEX code for Gray Brown?
Gray Brown is #7F7053.
What is the RGB value of Gray Brown?
The RGB value of Gray Brown is 127, 112, 83: 127 red, 112 green and 83 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(127, 112, 83) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Gray Brown?
The HSL value of Gray Brown is 40°, 21%, 41% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(40, 21%, 41%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Gray Brown?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 12%, Y 35%, K 50%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Gray Brown a light or dark color?
Gray Brown counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 41% and its relative luminance is 0.167. White text reads comfortably on it (4.83:1 contrast).
How does Gray Brown look with white text?
White text on Gray Brown has a contrast ratio of 4.83:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Gray Brown look with black text?
Black text on Gray Brown has a contrast ratio of 4.34:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Gray Brown?
Metallic Blue is its complementary color, and Dark Taupe sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Gray Brown be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (4.83:1 contrast); calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements; large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough.
How do I use Gray Brown in CSS?
Use color: #7F7053; for text, background-color: #7F7053; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-gray-brown: #7F7053; and reuse it with var(--color-gray-brown).
About this color page
Crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey (CC0). Values are calculated from the HEX code; color names are labels, not trademarks or standards unless stated. Screens render colors differently, so always check important colors on your own device. See the disclaimer.