Colors Encyclopedia

Named color

Taupe

Taupe is a dark and earth tone orange color with HEX #483C32. According to Colors Encyclopedia, it has RGB 72, 60, 50, HSL 27, 18%, 24%, warm temperature, and is useful for backgrounds, typography, and product surfaces.

#483C32 orange warm darkearth-tone
HEX #483C32
RGB rgb(72, 60, 50)
HSL hsl(27 18% 24%)
CMYK cmyk(0, 17, 31, 72)
Luminance 0.0484
Contrast Black 1.97:1White 10.67:1

CSS Utilities

--color-taupe: #483C32;
.bg-taupe { background-color: #483C32; }
.text-taupe { color: #483C32; }
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
Luminance0.0484
Black text1.97:1AA Fail
White text10.67:1AA Pass
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": "#483C32",
  "rgb": [
    72,
    60,
    50
  ],
  "hsl": [
    27,
    18,
    24
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    17,
    31,
    72
  ],
  "luminance": 0.0484,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 1.97,
    "white": 10.67
  }
}
WCAG
{
  "AA": [
    "#FFFFFF",
    "#F5F5F5"
  ],
  "AAA": [
    "#FFFFFF",
    "#F5F5F5"
  ]
}
Harmonies
{
  "complementary": "#323E48",
  "analogous": [
    "#483233",
    "#484732"
  ],
  "triadic": [
    "#32483C",
    "#3C3248"
  ],
  "tetradic": [
    "#334832",
    "#323E48",
    "#473248"
  ],
  "splitComplementary": [
    "#324847",
    "#323348"
  ],
  "monochromatic": [
    "#7E6958",
    "#483C32",
    "#120F0D"
  ]
}
Variants
{
  "light": "#7E6958",
  "dark": "#120F0D",
  "saturated": "#563B25",
  "desaturated": "#3D3D3D",
  "pastel": "#817D79",
  "neon": "#A34900"
}
Pairings
{
  "best": [
    "#FFFFFF",
    "#323E48",
    "#483233",
    "#484732"
  ],
  "avoid": [
    "#3D3D3D",
    "#7E6958"
  ],
  "neutral": [
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#E8E8E4"
  ],
  "highContrast": [
    "#FFFFFF"
  ],
  "lowContrast": [
    "#7E6958",
    "#3D3D3D"
  ]
}
Knowledge graph
{
  "nearestColors": [
    "pine-bark",
    "graphite",
    "espresso",
    "peat",
    "walnut"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "taupe"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "espresso-vs-taupe",
    "pine-bark-vs-taupe",
    "taupe-vs-graphite",
    "walnut-vs-taupe"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/orange",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/dark",
    "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/taupe",
    "/wcag/taupe",
    "/css/colors/taupe",
    "/hex/483c32"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/orange",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/dark",
      "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/taupe"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/pine-bark",
      "/colors/graphite",
      "/colors/espresso",
      "/colors/peat",
      "/colors/walnut",
      "/compare/espresso-vs-taupe",
      "/compare/pine-bark-vs-taupe",
      "/compare/taupe-vs-graphite",
      "/compare/walnut-vs-taupe",
      "/harmonies/taupe",
      "/wcag/taupe",
      "/css/colors/taupe",
      "/hex/483c32"
    ]
  }
}
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "slug": "taupe",
  "name": "Taupe",
  "hex": "#483C32",
  "uses": [
    "backgrounds",
    "typography",
    "product surfaces"
  ],
  "psychology": {
    "associations": [
      "restraint",
      "clarity",
      "balance"
    ],
    "contexts": [
      "interfaces",
      "architecture",
      "editorial design",
      "packaging"
    ],
    "avoidIn": [
      "high-energy accent-only palettes"
    ]
  },
  "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": [
    "dark",
    "earth-tone"
  ],
  "editorialNotes": "Curated internal color record with computed technical properties.",
  "tags": [
    "orange",
    "warm",
    "dark",
    "earth-tone",
    "backgrounds",
    "typography",
    "product-surfaces",
    "restraint",
    "clarity",
    "balance"
  ],
  "popularity": 84,
  "rgb": [
    72,
    60,
    50
  ],
  "hsl": [
    27,
    18,
    24
  ],
  "cmyk": [
    0,
    17,
    31,
    72
  ],
  "luminance": 0.0484,
  "contrast": {
    "black": 1.97,
    "white": 10.67
  },
  "harmonies": {
    "complementary": "#323E48",
    "analogous": [
      "#483233",
      "#484732"
    ],
    "triadic": [
      "#32483C",
      "#3C3248"
    ],
    "tetradic": [
      "#334832",
      "#323E48",
      "#473248"
    ],
    "splitComplementary": [
      "#324847",
      "#323348"
    ],
    "monochromatic": [
      "#7E6958",
      "#483C32",
      "#120F0D"
    ]
  },
  "variants": {
    "light": "#7E6958",
    "dark": "#120F0D",
    "saturated": "#563B25",
    "desaturated": "#3D3D3D",
    "pastel": "#817D79",
    "neon": "#A34900"
  },
  "wcag": {
    "AA": [
      "#FFFFFF",
      "#F5F5F5"
    ],
    "AAA": [
      "#FFFFFF",
      "#F5F5F5"
    ]
  },
  "css": {
    "variable": "--color-taupe: #483C32;",
    "utility": ".bg-taupe { background-color: #483C32; }",
    "textUtility": ".text-taupe { color: #483C32; }"
  },
  "nearestColors": [
    "pine-bark",
    "graphite",
    "espresso",
    "peat",
    "walnut"
  ],
  "generatedPalettes": [
    "taupe"
  ],
  "generatedComparisons": [
    "espresso-vs-taupe",
    "pine-bark-vs-taupe",
    "taupe-vs-graphite",
    "walnut-vs-taupe"
  ],
  "relatedFamilies": [
    "/colors/by-family/orange",
    "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
    "/colors/by-tone/dark",
    "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
  ],
  "relatedTools": [
    "/harmonies/taupe",
    "/wcag/taupe",
    "/css/colors/taupe",
    "/hex/483c32"
  ],
  "semanticRelations": {
    "broader": [
      "/colors/by-family/orange",
      "/colors/by-temperature/warm",
      "/colors/by-tone/dark",
      "/colors/by-tone/earth-tone"
    ],
    "narrower": [
      "/palettes/taupe"
    ],
    "related": [
      "/colors/pine-bark",
      "/colors/graphite",
      "/colors/espresso",
      "/colors/peat",
      "/colors/walnut",
      "/compare/espresso-vs-taupe",
      "/compare/pine-bark-vs-taupe",
      "/compare/taupe-vs-graphite",
      "/compare/walnut-vs-taupe",
      "/harmonies/taupe",
      "/wcag/taupe",
      "/css/colors/taupe",
      "/hex/483c32"
    ]
  },
  "pairings": {
    "best": [
      "#FFFFFF",
      "#323E48",
      "#483233",
      "#484732"
    ],
    "avoid": [
      "#3D3D3D",
      "#7E6958"
    ],
    "neutral": [
      "#1A1A1A",
      "#F5F5F5",
      "#E8E8E4"
    ],
    "highContrast": [
      "#FFFFFF"
    ],
    "lowContrast": [
      "#7E6958",
      "#3D3D3D"
    ]
  }
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

Color meaning and use

About Taupe Color

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

Its common associations include restraint, clarity, and balance, which makes it relevant for interfaces and architecture. In design work, Taupe is most useful for backgrounds, typography, and product surfaces, especially when paired with white text for stronger contrast.

Related Color Guides

Orange color familyBrowse named orange colors and compare nearby swatches.Warm colorsExplore colors with warm temperature behavior.Dark colorsFind colors with dark visual character.Earth Tone colorsFind colors with earth tone visual character.Taupe accessibilityCheck contrast and WCAG text options for #483C32.Taupe CSS utilitiesUse Taupe in CSS variables and utility classes.#483C32 HEX atlasOpen the permanent HEX atlas record for conversions and variants.Taupe paletteOpen the generated palette based on Taupe.Taupe harmoniesExplore complementary, analogous, triadic, and tetradic harmonies.

WCAG Accessibility

Contrast checks for Taupe against black and white text.

Black text1.97:1AA Fail
White text10.67:1AA Pass
AA text options#FFFFFF, #F5F5F5
AAA text options#FFFFFF, #F5F5F5
Open WCAG pageDetailed contrast notes, warnings, alternatives, and UI examples

Similar Colors

Pine Bark#4A3728
Graphite#383838
Espresso#4B3621
Peat#3B2F2F
Walnut#5C4033

Color Harmonies

#323E48#323E48
#483233#483233
#484732#484732
#32483C#32483C
#3C3248#3C3248
Open full Taupe harmony pageComplementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, split, and monochromatic sets

Variants

#7E6958#7E6958
#120F0D#120F0D
#563B25#563B25
#3D3D3D#3D3D3D
#817D79#817D79
#A34900#A34900

Pairings

White#FFFFFF
#323E48#323E48
#483233#483233
#484732#484732
Matte Black#1A1A1A
White Smoke#F5F5F5