Brown color · XKCD survey name
Rust Color Code: #A83C09
The HEX code for Rust is #A83C09. It is a medium-dark, vivid orange color made of 168 red, 60 green and 9 blue (HSL 19°, 90%, 35%). White text reads comfortably on it (6.33:1 contrast).
Rust color values
#A83C09
rgb(168, 60, 9)
hsl(19, 90%, 35%)
19, 95%, 66%
hwb(19 4% 34%)
0%, 64%, 95%, 34%
11025417
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Rust?
“Rust” 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 19° places it in the orange part of the color wheel, with 90% saturation (vivid) and 35% lightness (medium-dark). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other brown colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 25% of them and more saturated than 66% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.116, which makes it a dark color. That is below the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so white text has the advantage.
Rust counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 35% and its relative luminance is 0.116. White text reads comfortably on it (6.33:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Rust
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 6.33:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 3.31:1 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 Rust
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 Rust
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 Rust
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.33:1 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 Rust in CSS
:root {
--color-rust: #A83C09;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-rust);
background-color: #A83C09;
border: 2px solid #A83C09;
}Questions about Rust
What is the HEX code for Rust?
Rust is #A83C09.
What is the RGB value of Rust?
The RGB value of Rust is 168, 60, 9: 168 red, 60 green and 9 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(168, 60, 9) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Rust?
The HSL value of Rust is 19°, 90%, 35% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(19, 90%, 35%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Rust?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 64%, Y 95%, K 34%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Rust a light or dark color?
Rust counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 35% and its relative luminance is 0.116. White text reads comfortably on it (6.33:1 contrast).
How does Rust look with white text?
White text on Rust has a contrast ratio of 6.33:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Rust look with black text?
Black text on Rust has a contrast ratio of 3.31:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Rust?
Ocean Blue is its complementary color, and Carmine sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Rust be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (6.33:1 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 Rust in CSS?
Use color: #A83C09; for text, background-color: #A83C09; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-rust: #A83C09; and reuse it with var(--color-rust).
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.