Colors Encyclopedia

Named color

Sandstone

Sandstone is an earth tone orange color with HEX #C9AE74. According to Colors Encyclopedia, it has RGB 201, 174, 116, HSL 41, 44%, 62%, warm temperature, and is useful for highlight colors, editorial accents, and warm backgrounds.

#C9AE74 orange warm earth-tone
HEX #C9AE74
RGB rgb(201, 174, 116)
HSL hsl(41 44% 62%)
CMYK cmyk(0, 13, 42, 21)
Luminance 0.4395
Contrast Black 9.79:1White 2.15:1

CSS Utilities

--color-sandstone: #C9AE74;
.bg-sandstone { background-color: #C9AE74; }
.text-sandstone { color: #C9AE74; }
Open CSS utility pageReusable variables, classes, examples, and implementation notes

Machine-readable data

Machine-Readable Color Data (JSON)

Perfect for CSS, design systems, automation, and AI ingestion.

AI-Ready Dataset v1.0.0
Luminance0.4395
Black text9.79:1AA Pass
White text2.15:1AA Fail
hexCanonical HEX value
rgbRed, green, blue channels
hslHue, saturation, lightness
cmykApproximate print conversion
wcagAA and AAA contrast options
harmoniesMathematical harmony sets
variantsGenerated tone variants
nearestColorsKnowledge graph neighbors
Download JSON Open API
Structured sections
Color systems
{
  "hex": "#C9AE74",
  "rgb": [
    201,
    174,
    116
  ],
  "hsl": [
    41,
    44,
    62
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    13,
    42,
    21
  ],
  "luminance": 0.4395,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 9.79,
    "white": 2.15
  }
}
WCAG
{
  "AA": [
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#36454F"
  ],
  "AAA": [
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A"
  ]
}
Harmonies
{
  "complementary": "#738EC9",
  "analogous": [
    "#C98373",
    "#B9C973"
  ],
  "triadic": [
    "#73C9AE",
    "#AE73C9"
  ],
  "tetradic": [
    "#73C983",
    "#738EC9",
    "#C973B9"
  ],
  "splitComplementary": [
    "#73B9C9",
    "#8373C9"
  ],
  "monochromatic": [
    "#E2D4B6",
    "#C9AE74",
    "#A2823F"
  ]
}
Variants
{
  "light": "#E2D4B6",
  "dark": "#A2823F",
  "saturated": "#DEB65E",
  "desaturated": "#B3A689",
  "pastel": "#E7E1D4",
  "neon": "#FFCF66"
}
Pairings
{
  "best": [
    "#000000",
    "#738EC9",
    "#C98373",
    "#B9C973"
  ],
  "avoid": [
    "#B3A689",
    "#E2D4B6"
  ],
  "neutral": [
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#E8E8E4"
  ],
  "highContrast": [
    "#000000"
  ],
  "lowContrast": [
    "#E2D4B6",
    "#B3A689"
  ]
}
Knowledge graph
{
  "nearestColors": [
    "bamboo",
    "ecru",
    "sand",
    "champagne-gold",
    "dark-khaki"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "sandstone"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "bamboo-vs-sandstone",
    "camel-vs-sandstone",
    "champagne-gold-vs-sandstone",
    "dark-khaki-vs-sandstone",
    "ecru-vs-sandstone",
    "sand-vs-sandstone"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/orange",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/sandstone",
    "/wcag/sandstone",
    "/css/colors/sandstone",
    "/hex/c9ae74"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/orange",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/sandstone"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/bamboo",
      "/colors/ecru",
      "/colors/sand",
      "/colors/champagne-gold",
      "/colors/dark-khaki",
      "/compare/bamboo-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/camel-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/champagne-gold-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/dark-khaki-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/ecru-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/sand-vs-sandstone",
      "/harmonies/sandstone",
      "/wcag/sandstone",
      "/css/colors/sandstone",
      "/hex/c9ae74"
    ]
  }
}
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "slug": "sandstone",
  "name": "Sandstone",
  "hex": "#C9AE74",
  "uses": [
    "highlight colors",
    "editorial accents",
    "warm backgrounds"
  ],
  "psychology": {
    "associations": [
      "optimism",
      "clarity",
      "warmth"
    ],
    "contexts": [
      "education",
      "food",
      "lifestyle",
      "print design"
    ],
    "avoidIn": [
      "long-form text backgrounds at high saturation"
    ]
  },
  "aliases": [],
  "sourceType": "curated",
  "confidence": "medium",
  "reviewStatus": "manual",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/assets/colors.json",
  "origin": {
    "type": "common",
    "notes": "Curated common color reference used in design and editorial color systems."
  },
  "family": "orange",
  "temperature": "warm",
  "tone": [
    "earth-tone"
  ],
  "editorialNotes": "Curated internal color record with computed technical properties.",
  "tags": [
    "orange",
    "warm",
    "earth-tone",
    "highlight-colors",
    "editorial-accents",
    "warm-backgrounds",
    "optimism",
    "clarity",
    "warmth"
  ],
  "popularity": 84,
  "rgb": [
    201,
    174,
    116
  ],
  "hsl": [
    41,
    44,
    62
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    13,
    42,
    21
  ],
  "luminance": 0.4395,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 9.79,
    "white": 2.15
  },
  "harmonies": {
    "complementary": "#738EC9",
    "analogous": [
      "#C98373",
      "#B9C973"
    ],
    "triadic": [
      "#73C9AE",
      "#AE73C9"
    ],
    "tetradic": [
      "#73C983",
      "#738EC9",
      "#C973B9"
    ],
    "splitComplementary": [
      "#73B9C9",
      "#8373C9"
    ],
    "monochromatic": [
      "#E2D4B6",
      "#C9AE74",
      "#A2823F"
    ]
  },
  "variants": {
    "light": "#E2D4B6",
    "dark": "#A2823F",
    "saturated": "#DEB65E",
    "desaturated": "#B3A689",
    "pastel": "#E7E1D4",
    "neon": "#FFCF66"
  },
  "wcag": {
    "AA": [
      "#000000",
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#36454F"
    ],
    "AAA": [
      "#000000",
      "#1A1A1A"
    ]
  },
  "css": {
    "variable": "--color-sandstone: #C9AE74;",
    "utility": ".bg-sandstone { background-color: #C9AE74; }",
    "textUtility": ".text-sandstone { color: #C9AE74; }"
  },
  "nearestColors": [
    "bamboo",
    "ecru",
    "sand",
    "champagne-gold",
    "dark-khaki"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "sandstone"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "bamboo-vs-sandstone",
    "camel-vs-sandstone",
    "champagne-gold-vs-sandstone",
    "dark-khaki-vs-sandstone",
    "ecru-vs-sandstone",
    "sand-vs-sandstone"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/orange",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/sandstone",
    "/wcag/sandstone",
    "/css/colors/sandstone",
    "/hex/c9ae74"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/orange",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/sandstone"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/bamboo",
      "/colors/ecru",
      "/colors/sand",
      "/colors/champagne-gold",
      "/colors/dark-khaki",
      "/compare/bamboo-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/camel-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/champagne-gold-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/dark-khaki-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/ecru-vs-sandstone",
      "/compare/sand-vs-sandstone",
      "/harmonies/sandstone",
      "/wcag/sandstone",
      "/css/colors/sandstone",
      "/hex/c9ae74"
    ]
  },
  "pairings": {
    "best": [
      "#000000",
      "#738EC9",
      "#C98373",
      "#B9C973"
    ],
    "avoid": [
      "#B3A689",
      "#E2D4B6"
    ],
    "neutral": [
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#F5F5F5",
      "#E8E8E4"
    ],
    "highContrast": [
      "#000000"
    ],
    "lowContrast": [
      "#E2D4B6",
      "#B3A689"
    ]
  }
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

Color meaning and use

About Sandstone Color

Sandstone sits in the orange family with warm temperature and earth tone visual character. Sandstone is a commonly used color name in design references, palettes, and editorial color systems.

Its common associations include optimism, clarity, and warmth, which makes it relevant for education and food. In design work, Sandstone is most useful for highlight colors, editorial accents, and warm backgrounds, especially when paired with black text for stronger contrast.

Related Color Guides

Orange color familyBrowse named orange colors and compare nearby swatches.Warm colorsExplore colors with warm temperature behavior.Earth Tone colorsFind colors with earth tone visual character.Sandstone accessibilityCheck contrast and WCAG text options for #C9AE74.Sandstone CSS utilitiesUse Sandstone in CSS variables and utility classes.#C9AE74 HEX atlasOpen the permanent HEX atlas record for conversions and variants.Sandstone paletteOpen the generated palette based on Sandstone.Sandstone harmoniesExplore complementary, analogous, triadic, and tetradic harmonies.

WCAG Accessibility

Contrast checks for Sandstone against black and white text.

Black text9.79:1AA Pass
White text2.15:1AA Fail
AA text options#000000, #1A1A1A, #36454F
AAA text options#000000, #1A1A1A
Open WCAG pageDetailed contrast notes, warnings, alternatives, and UI examples

Similar Colors

Bamboo#C7B56E
Ecru#C2B280
Sand#C2B280
Champagne Gold#D6B971
Dark Khaki#BDB76B

Color Harmonies

#738EC9#738EC9
#C98373#C98373
#B9C973#B9C973
#73C9AE#73C9AE
#AE73C9#AE73C9
Open full Sandstone harmony pageComplementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split, and monochromatic sets

Variants

#E2D4B6#E2D4B6
#A2823F#A2823F
#DEB65E#DEB65E
#B3A689#B3A689
#E7E1D4#E7E1D4
#FFCF66#FFCF66

Pairings

Black#000000
#738EC9#738EC9
#C98373#C98373
#B9C973#B9C973
Matte Black#1A1A1A
White Smoke#F5F5F5