Brown color · XKCD survey name
Sepia Color Code: #985E2B
The HEX code for Sepia is #985E2B. It is a medium-dark, rich orange color made of 152 red, 94 green and 43 blue (HSL 28°, 56%, 38%). White text reads comfortably on it (5.28:1 contrast).
Sepia color values
#985E2B
rgb(152, 94, 43)
hsl(28, 56%, 38%)
28, 72%, 60%
hwb(28 17% 40%)
0%, 38%, 72%, 40%
9985579
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Sepia?
“Sepia” 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 28° places it in the orange part of the color wheel, with 56% saturation (rich) and 38% lightness (medium-dark). It is a warm color.
Compared with the other brown colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 37% of them and more saturated than 39% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.149, 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.
Sepia counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 38% and its relative luminance is 0.149. White text reads comfortably on it (5.28:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Sepia
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 5.28:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
| Black text | Sample text | 3.97:1 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 Sepia
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 Sepia
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 Sepia
- Button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (5.28:1 contrast)
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Warm neutrals alongside cream and green
- Borders, wood-like textures and illustrations
- Earthy, natural palettes
- Packaging and craft-style layouts
Use Sepia in CSS
:root {
--color-sepia: #985E2B;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-sepia);
background-color: #985E2B;
border: 2px solid #985E2B;
}Questions about Sepia
What is the HEX code for Sepia?
Sepia is #985E2B.
What is the RGB value of Sepia?
The RGB value of Sepia is 152, 94, 43: 152 red, 94 green and 43 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(152, 94, 43) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Sepia?
The HSL value of Sepia is 28°, 56%, 38% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(28, 56%, 38%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Sepia?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 38%, Y 72%, K 40%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Sepia a light or dark color?
Sepia counts as a dark color: its HSL lightness is 38% and its relative luminance is 0.149. White text reads comfortably on it (5.28:1 contrast).
How does Sepia look with white text?
White text on Sepia has a contrast ratio of 5.28:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
How does Sepia look with black text?
Black text on Sepia has a contrast ratio of 3.97:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
What colors go well with Sepia?
Light Navy Blue is its complementary color, and Brown sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Sepia be used?
It suits button, banner and badge backgrounds with white text (5.28:1 contrast); large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough; warm neutrals alongside cream and green.
How do I use Sepia in CSS?
Use color: #985E2B; for text, background-color: #985E2B; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-sepia: #985E2B; and reuse it with var(--color-sepia).
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.