Brown color · XKCD survey name
Muddy Brown Color Code: #886806
The HEX code for Muddy Brown is #886806. It is a dark, vivid yellow color made of 136 red, 104 green and 6 blue (HSL 45°, 92%, 28%). White text reads comfortably on it (5.21:1 contrast).
Muddy Brown color values
#886806
rgb(136, 104, 6)
hsl(45, 92%, 28%)
45, 96%, 53%
hwb(45 2% 47%)
0%, 24%, 96%, 47%
8939526
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Muddy Brown?
“Muddy 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 45° places it in the yellow part of the color wheel, with 92% saturation (vivid) and 28% lightness (dark). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other brown colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 9% of them and more saturated than 69% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.151, 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.
Muddy Brown counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 28% and its relative luminance is 0.151. White text reads comfortably on it (5.21:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Muddy Brown
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 5.21:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 4.02:1 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 Muddy 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 Muddy 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 Muddy Brown
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (5.21:1 contrast)
- Accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Packaging and craft-style layouts
- Warm neutrals alongside cream and green
- Borders, wood-like textures and illustrations
Use Muddy Brown in CSS
:root {
--color-muddy-brown: #886806;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-muddy-brown);
background-color: #886806;
border: 2px solid #886806;
}Questions about Muddy Brown
What is the HEX code for Muddy Brown?
Muddy Brown is #886806.
What is the RGB value of Muddy Brown?
The RGB value of Muddy Brown is 136, 104, 6: 136 red, 104 green and 6 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(136, 104, 6) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Muddy Brown?
The HSL value of Muddy Brown is 45°, 92%, 28% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(45, 92%, 28%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Muddy Brown?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 24%, Y 96%, K 47%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Muddy Brown a light or dark color?
Muddy Brown counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 28% and its relative luminance is 0.151. White text reads comfortably on it (5.21:1 contrast).
How does Muddy Brown look with white text?
White text on Muddy Brown has a contrast ratio of 5.21:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Muddy Brown look with black text?
Black text on Muddy Brown has a contrast ratio of 4.02:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Muddy Brown?
Midnight Blue is its complementary color, and Brown Red sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Muddy Brown be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (5.21:1 contrast); accents that need to stand out: call-to-action buttons, charts and illustrations; large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough.
How do I use Muddy Brown in CSS?
Use color: #886806; for text, background-color: #886806; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-muddy-brown: #886806; and reuse it with var(--color-muddy-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.