Dark Brown

HEX: #654321 | Modern Palette

On White
8.83:1
PASS
On Black
2.38:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#654321
RGB
101, 67, 33
HSL
30°, 67% ,39%
CMYK
0, 33.66, 67.33, 60.39

About Dark Brown

Dark Brown (#654321) is a color with RGB(101, 67, 33) and HSL(30°, 67.33%, 39.61%). In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #214365, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #216543 and #432165. The name comes from Dark Brown (English).

  • HEX: #654321
  • RGB: 101, 67, 33
  • HSL: 30°, 67.33%, 39.61%
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #214365
  • Triadic colors: #216543, #432165
  • The name comes from Dark Brown (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #654321 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #4F4F1F
Protanopia #484821
Tritanopia #674040
Achromatopsia #4A4A4A

Frequently Asked Questions

Dark Brown (#654321) is a color with RGB(101, 67, 33) and HSL(30°, 67.33%, 39.61%).

#654321 pairs strongly with #214365 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#654321 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Warm styles.

The name Dark Brown is linked to Dark Brown from English, meaning A shade of brown that is deep and has low lightness..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Dark Brown
Meaning A shade of brown that is deep and has low lightness.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late Middle English / Early Modern English (as 'dark' and 'brown' separately, combined usage likely informal before formal codification)

History

The word 'dark' comes from Old English 'deorc', meaning 'dark, obscure, gloomy'. 'Brown' comes from Old English 'brun', meaning 'dark, dusky'. Both words have Germanic roots. The combination 'dark brown' is a descriptive compound, where 'dark' modifies 'brown' to specify a particular intensity or shade. Historically, 'brown' itself often encompassed a wide range of shades, and adding 'dark' helped to differentiate it from lighter or more reddish browns. The specific hexadecimal code #654321 is a modern digital representation, not part of the historical linguistic development.

First Recorded Use

While 'dark' and 'brown' have ancient origins, their specific combination 'dark brown' as a common descriptor for a color shade likely solidified in usage during the 16th-18th centuries as color terminology became more precise. Formal codification as a distinct color name would be later.

Cultural Associations

Dark brown is a very common color in nature, associated with earth, wood, soil, and animal fur. It often evokes feelings of stability, warmth, reliability, and naturalness. In fashion, it's considered a classic, versatile, and sophisticated neutral. In art, it's used for shadows, grounding elements, and naturalistic depictions. Culturally, it's less symbolically charged than primary colors but carries connotations of being grounded and unpretentious.

Similar Named Colors
Brown-nose #6B4423 ΔE 2.01
Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) #644117 ΔE 2.28
Sepia #704214 ΔE 4.17
Donkey Brown #664C28 ΔE 4.28

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #654321;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #654321;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #654321;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #654321,
        #2165A9
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #654321,
        #2165A9
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$dark-brown: #654321;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$dark-brown-r: 101;
$dark-brown-g: 67;
$dark-brown-b: 33;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $dark-brown;
    color: rgba($dark-brown-r, $dark-brown-g, $dark-brown-b, 0.8);
}