Khaki

HEX: #C3B091 | Modern Palette

On White
2.11:1
FAIL
On Black
9.94:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#C3B091
RGB
195, 176, 145
HSL
37°, 29% ,66%
CMYK
0, 10, 26, 24

About Khaki

Khaki (#C3B091) is a color with RGB(195, 176, 145) and HSL(37.2°, 29.4%, 66.7%). In design, it fits Muted, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Border, Print. Its complementary color is #91A4C3, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #91C3B0 and #B091C3. The name comes from khākī (Hindi).

  • HEX: #C3B091
  • RGB: 195, 176, 145
  • HSL: 37.2°, 29.4%, 66.7%
  • Style: Muted, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Border, Print
  • Complementary color: #91A4C3
  • Triadic colors: #91C3B0, #B091C3
  • The name comes from khākī (Hindi).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Khaki #C3B091 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
 
KHAKI
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
KHAKI
 
 
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

Khaki #C3B091 pairs with #91A4C3 as its complementary color, and #91C3B0 and #B091C3 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

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

KHAKI
Analogous

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

KHAKI
Triadic

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

KHAKI
Split-Complementary

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

KHAKI
Tetradic (Square)

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

KHAKI
Monochromatic

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

KHAKI

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Khaki #C3B091 moves from dark #110E09 tones through the base color to lighter #F6F3EE tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

KHAKI

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Muted Warm
Use case
Text Border Print

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #B6B690
Protanopia #B2B291
Tritanopia #C6ACAC
Achromatopsia #B2B2B2

Frequently Asked Questions

Khaki (#C3B091) is a color with RGB(195, 176, 145) and HSL(37.2°, 29.4%, 66.7%).

#C3B091 pairs strongly with #91A4C3 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#C3B091 is suitable for Text, Border, Print and works well with Muted, Warm styles.

The name Khaki is linked to khākī from Hindi, meaning dusty, dust-colored, earthy.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word khākī
Meaning dusty, dust-colored, earthy
Language Hindi
First Recorded Use 19th Century

History

The word 'khaki' itself derives from the Persian word 'khāk' (dust) and its Hindi derivative 'khākī'. The color was adopted by the British Indian Army for its practical camouflage benefits in the dusty terrain of India. Prior to this, British soldiers wore bright red coats, which made them easy targets. The success of khaki in India led to its adoption by other British regiments and eventually by armies worldwide. During the First and Second World Wars, khaki became the standard uniform color for many nations. Its use has since expanded beyond military applications to workwear, fashion, and outdoor apparel, valued for its durability and neutral tone.

First Recorded Use

The term 'khaki' was first used in a military context in British India in the mid-19th century. The Corps of Guides, formed in 1846, was the first to adopt khaki uniforms for active service.

Cultural Associations

Khaki is strongly associated with military uniforms, particularly those from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It evokes images of adventure, utility, and a certain ruggedness. In fashion, khaki is considered a versatile neutral, often used in casual wear, safari styles, and preppy aesthetics. It can symbolize practicality and understated elegance. Its widespread adoption in various contexts has made it a ubiquitous color in modern society.

Similar Named Colors
Tan #D2B48C ΔE 4.32
Light French Beige #C8AD7F ΔE 4.45
Dark Vanilla #D1BEA8 ΔE 5.18
Sand #C2B280 ΔE 5.89

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #C3B091;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #C3B091;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #C3B091;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #C3B091,
        #91A4C3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #C3B091,
        #91A4C3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$khaki: #C3B091;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$khaki-r: 195;
$khaki-g: 176;
$khaki-b: 145;

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