Shades of Brown - Exploring the Shades of the Brown Color Palette

While brown may not be the most exciting color on the visible light spectrum, it is one of the most versatile and important shades that you can have in your arsenal. There are countless shades of brown, ranging from deep and dark burnt sienna to light beige hues. In this article, we provide you with an extensive list of the most popular shades of brown, with their Hex numbers, RGB, and CMYK codes. Take a look and see what your favorite shade of brown is!

Table of Contents

1 A Little Bit of Brown Background
- 1.1 Brown Represents Reliability, Integrity, and Honesty
2 Different Brown Shades

A Little Bit of Brown Background

Brown is one of the easiest colors to mix with paint because it is a composite color made by combining all three primary shades in various ways. Lighter browns are often tinted with white, while darker browns incorporate some black shading. To our eyes, a wide variety of colors appear brown, including shades that are closer to orange, yellow, green, and black.

Brown is a very natural and earthy color, and our perceptions of these hues are influenced by features of the natural world like sand, wood, and earth.

While shades of brown may never be the shining star of your painting or design, you will struggle to create a complete piece without them. Brown is often viewed as a stable, dependable, conservative, and traditional shade to work with. Let us take a closer look at some of the different emotions held in brown shades.

Brown Represents Reliability, Integrity, and Honesty

Brown is often viewed as a dependable and reliable color. It is likely that this impression stems from its association with earth and being grounded and solid. Brown is not a fanciful color, it does not have any frills or flourishes, but it is sturdy and down-to-earth. While some colors, like yellow or blue, tend to stimulate the imagination, brown grounds us in the present moment.

Of all the colors in the rainbow, brown provides a sense of security and protection. This security is not obvious or in the spotlight, but takes place in the shadows. Brown is an essential color that sets the tone of the painting and supports all of your design elements. There are so many varied and beautiful brown shades, which you can use for a wide range of different effects.

In this article, we are going to introduce you to some of the most popular types of brown color with the brown hex code for each.

Different Brown Shades

The many types of brown color can be broadly divided into three categories. The first is dark brown shades, the second is light brown colors, and the third is shades of beige. Within each of these categories, there are varied types of brown color. Some shades lean closer to red, while others are more earthy with a green base. For each of the brown shades below, we provide the brown color code, brown hex code, and the brown color names. You can refer to this list any time you need to create beautiful works with varied types of brown color.

Shades of Dark Brown Color

Dark brown shades are earthy, strong, and impactful. Darker brown shades are useful when representing the earth, for coloring wood, and even giving autumn leaves their signature glowing shade. You will see below that within the category of dark brown shades, there is an incredible variety. Shades like bistre are almost black, while many may argue that auburn is in fact a shade of red rather than a brown color.

Each of these unique brown shades can offer a lot to a painting, so let us dive right in and explore them!

Bistre Brown

Of all the dark brown shades, bistre brown is up there as one of the darkest. The temperature of this dark brown color is very cool, and it shares similar hues with dark brown and Tuscan brown. Bistre brown is darker than many of the other shades of brown on our list.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Bistre Brown	#3D2B1F	0, 30, 49, 76	61, 43, 31

Taupe Brown

Taupe brown is one of the darkest brown colors and also one of the coolest. You can see that there is a significant gray undertone to this dark brown shade, and it is a perfect shade to have as part of a brown color palette.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Taupe Brown	#483C32	0, 17, 31, 72	72, 60, 50

Café Noir Brown

Café noir is one of the darkest and coolest shades of brown available. The tone of this brown color is similar to dark brown and Tuscan brown, but it is slightly cooler in tone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Café Noir Brown	#4B3621	0, 28, 56, 71	75, 54, 33

Deep Coffee Brown

If you are looking for a deep and cool shade of dark brown with a purple-red undertone, then deep coffee is the perfect shade. This color is slightly warmer and darker than Tuscan brown, but it is cooler than dark brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Deep Coffee Brown	#704241	0, 41, 42, 56	112, 66, 65

Dark Brown

Now, it is time to introduce the OG dark brown color. This color is reminiscent of coffee or chocolate in its deep rich shade. The prototypical shade of dark brown is a versatile and beautiful rich brown color.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Dark Brown	#654321	0, 34, 67, 60	101, 67, 33

Tuscan Brown

Our next shade of brown is Tuscan brown, which is a cooler shade that is on the border of light and dark brown. Tuscan brown contains small hints of gray and would be the perfect shade for coloring the bark of an aged tree.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Tuscan Brown	#6F4E37	0, 30, 50, 56	111, 78, 55

Bole Brown

Bole brown is on the border of dark and medium brown shades, with a very cool and slightly purple undertone. This shade is a slightly more muted and browner hue of burgundy brown. Bole brown is a great color to have as part of a brown color palette, as it is very versatile and beautiful.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Bole Brown	#79443B	0, 44, 51, 53	121, 68, 59

Sepia Brown

All of us at one time or another have layered a photograph with a sepia tone filter to give it that “old-timey” feel. You will instantly recognize the slightly yellow tone of this lovely dark brown shade from these filters. The sepia brown color gets its name from the type of ink used in the earliest printing of photographs. This brown color is slightly warmer than plain dark brown, and it is lovely and rich like polished wooden furniture.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Sepia Brown	#704214	0, 41, 82, 56	112, 66, 20

Russet Brown

Russet brown is a slightly darker version of the sienna brown shade. It is, however, slightly cooler than sienna brown and has a red undertone. This brown shade is lovely and deep, perfect for coloring antique wooden furniture, for example.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Russet Brown	#80461B	0, 45, 79, 50	128, 70, 27

Saddle Brown

In many ways, saddle brown is similar to russet. It is also a warm shade of dark brown, but saddle brown is slightly lighter and also slightly warmer than russet brown. Saddle brown is a lovely brown color with a touch of orange undertone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Saddle Brown	#8B4513	0, 50, 86, 45	139, 69, 19

Sienna Brown

Sienna Brown is another one of the slightly red-brown shades. This brown color shares qualities with other shades of dark brown like mahogany and russet brown. While there is a brown color called chestnut, sienna brown is closer to the color of chestnuts.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Sienna Brown	#A0522D	0, 49, 72, 37	160, 82, 45

Rust Brown

Rust brown is another brown color that many may argue is actually orange, rather than brown. This warm, medium shade of brown strongly mirrors the color of rusted metal, hence the name! In some ways, rust-brown is similar to the color of bronze metal, but it is a little redder and slightly richer.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Rust Brown	#B7410E	0, 64, 92, 28	183, 65, 14

Mahogany Brown

Mahogany brown is another lovely warm and rich shade of dark brown. The undertones are rich and reddish, and many compare this shade to a darker and warmer cinnamon color. Mahogany brown is named after the color of the wood, often used to craft expensive furniture pieces.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Mahogany Brown	#C04000	0, 67, 100, 25	192, 64, 0

Burnt Umber

If you have worked with paints for a long time, you are sure to have come across and used burnt umber extensively. This is one of the most popular browns, which has rich and dark red undertones. Burnt umber is a very warm and deep shade of brown, which has many uses in color mixing and painting.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Burnt Umber	#8A3324	0, 63, 74, 46	138, 51, 36

Rufous Brown

If you are looking for a dark shade of red-brown, then rufous may be the perfect shade for you. Rufous is similar to the auburn brown color, but unlike auburn, it does not have a purple undertone. Instead, this dark brown color has more of an orange undertone, making it the perfect shade for glowing embers.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Rufous Brown	#A81C07	0, 83, 96, 34	168, 28, 7

Auburn Brown

Auburn brown is the last shade on our list of dark brown colors. This beautiful and rich shade of reddish-brown shares similar traits with burnt umber and burgundy. Auburn brown is slightly more brown than burgundy, although it does still lean strongly towards the family of red shades. Auburn is also redder than the shade of burnt umber, making it a perfect middle shade.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Auburn Brown	#A52A2A	0, 75, 75, 35	165, 42, 42

Shades of Light Brown Color

While many of the dark brown shades above tend to lean quite strongly towards the family of red hues, there is much more variety within the light brown color palette. Some of these brown colors lean towards yellow, green, and orange.

Light brown shades are thought to be welcoming, warm, and friendly, so let us jump right into the first light brown color!

Dirt Brown

The name of this shade does not quite live up to the beauty of the light brown color. Dirt brown is a light and cool shade of brown that is on the border between light brown and beige. You can compare this brown color to a slightly darker tan shade with a more gray tone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Dirt Brown	#9B7653	0, 24, 46, 39	155, 118, 83

Chamoisee Brown

Many describe Chamoisee brown as a slightly warmer taupe shade, and it shares similarities in tone with beaver brown. This light brown color is warm, light, and lovely, making it a great addition to a brown color palette.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Chamoisee Brown	#A0785A	0, 25, 44, 37	160, 120, 90

Coconut Brown

Named for the color of coconut shells, this is a lovely cool light brown color. A medium shade of brown, coconut brown is slightly lighter and cooler than the actual color of a coconut shell, and although slightly warmer, it shares similarities in hue to chamois brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Coconut Brown	#965A3E	0, 40, 59, 41	150, 90, 62

Chestnut Brown

Named after the fruit of the chestnut tree, chestnut brown is a slightly pink light brown color. Although named after the chestnut fruit, this shade is slightly paler and redder than the fruit appears to us.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Chestnut Brown	#CD5C5C	0, 55, 55, 20	205, 92, 92

Windsor Tan Brown

Windsor tan brown is one of the darker light brown colors on this list. This brown color is very warm and is a slightly richer and darker shade than the traditional light brown shade.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Windsor Tan Brown	#A75502	0, 49, 99, 35	167, 85, 2

Golden Brown

Compared to ginger brown, golden brown is slightly darker and slightly cooler in tone. This rich golden brown color makes a wonderful and necessary addition to any brown color palette.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Golden Brown	#996515	0, 34, 86, 40	153, 101, 21

Ginger Brown

This light brown color is the shade of gingerbread men. Named after the ginger spice, this is a warm and rich golden brown tone that makes us think of delicious and warm baked goods.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Ginger Brown	#B06500	0, 43, 100, 31	176, 101, 0

Light Brown

As the flagship color of this category of brown shades, light brown has warm undertones and a delicate softness that makes it stand out from the crowd. Many compare light brown to ochre brown, with it being ever-so-slightly darker in tone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Light Brown	#B5651D	0, 44, 84, 29	181, 101, 29

Cinnamon Brown

Cinnamon Brown is a beautiful, rich, and warm light brown color. With hints of orange and yellow, this brown color is versatile and welcoming. Although named after the cinnamon spice, this color is slightly warmer and lighter than the coloring of the spice.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Cinnamon Brown	#D2691E	0, 50, 86, 18	210, 105, 30

Copper Brown

The first of our trio of metal-derived brown colors, copper brown is another light and warm shade of brown. Once again, although named after copper, this shade is slightly more muted and warmer than the metal. The soft hints of orange make this a very attractive and popular shade of brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Copper Brown	#B87333	0, 38, 72, 28	184, 115, 51

Ochre Brown

Another one of the most popular shades of light brown, ochre is a very soft and welcoming shade of light brown. Ochre is similar in tone to bronze brown, but it has a slightly more orange undertone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Ochre Brown	#CC7722	0, 42, 83, 20	204, 119, 34

Bronze Brown

Taking its name from the metal with this coloring, bronze brown is a warm shade of brown with a slight orange tone. This lovely light brown color has a warmer tone than copper.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Bronze Brown	#CD7F32	0, 38, 76, 20	205, 127, 50

Peru Brown

Of all the light brown colors we have covered so far, Peru brown is the closest to beige. This beautiful warm and light brown color lies on the border between the light brown and beige categories. Peru brown is a lighter and less orange alternative to cinnamon brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Peru Brown	#CD853F	0, 35, 69, 20	205, 133, 63

Brass Brown

Brass brown is a very yellow-based light brown color that has subtle hints of green hues. Brass brown gets its name from the metal that shares the same color, and it is a wonderfully versatile light brown color. Whether you are drawing autumn leaves or a field of flowers, this shade is an essential part of a brown color palette.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Brass Brown	#B5A642	0, 8, 64, 29	181, 166, 66

Shades of Beige Brown Color

When brown shades become very light, we tend to classify them as beige. The exact nature of beige is up for debate, as different artists see beige as different colors. While many people may believe that beige is a single color, there is actually a wide variety of different beige shades that you can add to a brown color palette.

Ecru Brown

Ecru brown is a lovely light brown color with a slightly yellow undertone. It is possible to compare this shade to sand brown, although it is slightly warmer and darker.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Ecru Brown	#C2B280	0, 8, 34, 24	194, 178, 128

Khaki Brown

The color of khaki fabric, this light brown color is quite a cool and dark shade of beige. Khaki brown has a slightly gray undertone, making it a fantastic neutral shade to have as part of a brown color palette.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Khaki Brown	#C3B091	0, 10, 26, 24	195, 176, 145

Dark Vanilla Brown

Dark vanilla is one of the darker and cooler shades of beige on this list. You can compare this shade to sand and taupe brown, but it has a slightly more gray undertone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Dark Vanilla Brown	#D1BEA8	0, 9, 20, 18	209, 190, 168

Tan Brown

Tan brown is one of the most easily identifiable shades of beige. This light brown color is a little warmer than traditional beige and slightly cooler than sand. It is also one of the darker beige shades.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Tan Brown	#D2B48C	0, 14, 33, 18	210, 180, 140

Wood Brown

The name of this color stems from its similarity to the color of light hardwood flooring. Wood brown is a slightly cooler shade of fawn beige, and it is quite a light brown color.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Wood Brown	#C19A6B	0, 20, 45, 24	193, 154, 107

Deer Brown

The tone of deer brown is very similar to tan brown, but it is slightly warmer and a little darker. This beautiful light brown color is a warm beige that is slightly darker and warmer than fawn brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Deer Brown	#BA8759	0, 27, 52, 27	186, 135, 89

Café au Lait Brown

Translated, the name of this beige brown shade is coffee with milk. The name perfectly describes the warm and milky tones of this color.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Café au Lait Brown	#A67B5B	0, 26, 45, 35	166, 123, 91

Beaver Brown

Beaver brown, possibly named after the little critters with big teeth, is a light grayish brown color. The undertone of this light brown color is very cool, and it is a slightly cooler version of taupe brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Beaver Brown	#9F8170	0, 19, 30, 38	159, 129, 112

Antique Brass Brown

A light and soft brown color, antique brass is a slightly peachy beige shade. This beautiful color is slightly cooler than brass brown, and it is a little darker than bisque brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Antique Brass Brown	#CD9575	0, 27, 43, 20	205, 149, 117

Tumbleweed Brown

Tumbleweed brown is a very light and pinkish shade of brown. If we compare tumbleweed brown to some of the other beige shades on this list, it is slightly cooler than tan brown with a more orange undertone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Tumbleweed Brown	#DEAA88	0, 23, 39, 13	222, 170, 136

Fawn Brown

If you want a very warm light brown color, then fawn brown is the perfect option. This light brown color is slightly peachy, with a warm orange undertone. Fawn is the lighter and brighter version of deer brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Fawn Brown	#E5AA70	0, 26, 51, 10	229, 170, 112

Burlywood Brown

This beautiful beige shade is very pale and shares similar tones with desert sand and bisque brown. Some artists also compare this shade to tan, but it is slightly more peachy and warm.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Burlywood Brown	#DEB887	0, 17, 39, 13	222, 184, 135

Sand Brown

If you are looking for a light and friendly beige shade, then you do not need to look any further than sand brown. This cool and light brown color is named after the color of beach sand, and it is often compared to bisque brown.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Sand Brown	#F6D7B0	0, 13, 28, 4	246, 215, 176

Wheat Brown

Wheat brown is a very light and yellow-brown color. Some artists classify wheat brown as a shade of white rather than brown, but for us, this color clearly belongs in the beige category of brown shades. Although named after the wheat plant, this shade is slightly more peachy than the grain kernels.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Wheat Brown	#F5DEB3	0, 9, 27, 4	245, 222, 179

Champagne Brown

Champagne brown is another light beige shade that is often classified as a white hue. The tone of this beautiful color is, however, warmer and more saturated than traditional beige.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Champagne Brown	#FAD6A5	0, 14, 34, 2	250, 214, 165

Bisque Brown

Bisque brown is named after a creamy type of soup, and it mirrors the pale and creamy shade of this delicacy. This light brown color is pale and cream-colored, with a slight peach undertone.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Bisque Brown	#FFE4C4	0, 11, 23, 0	255, 228, 196

Almond Brown

This light brown color is yet another shade that sits on the border of brown, white, and gray. The light brown color has a slightly gray undertone, but it remains warmer than some of the other beige shades in this list.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Almond Brown	#EFDECD	0, 7, 14, 6	239, 222, 205

Bone Brown

You could just as easily name this shade ivory, as it is a very light and slightly gray shade of beige. Bone brown is a very pale and slightly yellow shade of beige.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Bone Brown	#E3DAC9	0, 4, 11, 11	227, 218, 201

Beige Brown

Finally, we complete this list of brown shades with true beige. Beige brown is a very pale and yellow-toned shade of light brown. Very often, this light shade is classified as a shade of white because it is so pale. Beige is a beautiful brown shade and is an essential part of any brown color palette.

Shade	Brown Hex Code	CMYK Brown Color Code	RGB Brown Color Code	Brown Color
Beige Brown	#F5F5DC	0, 0, 10, 4	245, 245, 220

We have come to the end of our list of different types of brown colors. We hope that you have found this article to be informative and that you will begin to incorporate many of these beautiful and varied brown shades in your future paintings or designs. There is much more to brown than initially meets the eye, and this color deserves to sing!

Take a look at our brown color webstory here!

Charlene Lewis( Writer for Color Theory and Painting )

In 2005, Charlene completed her Wellness Diplomas in Therapeutic Aromatherapy and Reflexology from the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for a couple of years, before opening up her own therapy practice. It was in 2015 that a friend, who was a digital marketer, asked her to join her company as a content creator, and this is where she found her excitement for writing.

Since joining the content writing world, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing on a diverse selection of topics, from beauty, health, wellness, travel, and more. Due to various circumstances, she had to close her therapy practice and is now a full-time freelance writer. Being a creative person, she could not pass up the opportunity to contribute to the Art in Context team, where is was in her element, writing about a variety of art and craft topics. Contributing articles for over three years now, her knowledge in this area has grown, and she has gotten to explore her creativity and improve her research and writing skills.

Learn more about the Art in Context Team.