Brass

#B5A642

What color is Brass?

Brass is a warm golden-yellow with a slight green or brown tint, hex #B5A642, close to the color of raw wildflower honey. The tone is muted rather than bright, giving it a dull metallic quality without any shine.

What is the meaning of the color Brass?

Named after the metal alloy of copper and zinc, brass as a color reflects the actual appearance of the material used in tools, instruments, and fittings since ancient times. The alloy itself was documented in Roman-era production, and by the medieval period brass goods were traded across Europe through organized craft guilds, particularly in the Meuse valley region of present-day Belgium. The color name entered English use as a direct reference to the aged or unpolished surface of that metal. Steinway and Sons, the piano manufacturer founded in 1853, helped anchor brass as a mark of craftsmanship and durability through its use on instrument hardware.

RGB
181, 166, 66
HSL
52°, 47%, 48%
CMYK
0, 8, 64, 29
HSV
52°, 64%, 71%
Brass color

What colors go with Brass?

Colors that pair well with Brass include:
Navy Blue: sharp, grounded contrast
Forest Green: earthy, natural depth
Burgundy: rich, warm tone
Charcoal: strong, muted balance
Cream: soft, warm highlight

Similar Colors

Conversions & Codes

Format Value CSS
HEX #B5A642 color: #B5A642;
RGB 181, 166, 66 color: rgb(181, 166, 66);
RGB Percentage 71%, 65%, 26% color: rgb(71%, 65%, 26%);
CMYK 0%, 8%, 64%, 29% Not supported in CSS
HSL 52°, 47%, 48% color: hsl(52, 47%, 48%);
HSV 52°, 64%, 71% Not supported in CSS
CIE-LAB 38, 3, 33 color: lab(38% 3 33);
Decimal 11904578 Not supported in CSS

Color Variations

Shades

#B4A541
#A2943A
#908434
#7E732D
#6C6327
#5A5220
#48421A
#363113

Tints

#EAE5C5
#E3DCB1
#DCD49E
#D5CB8A
#CEC277
#C7B963
#C0B150
#B4A541

Tones

#B4A541
#AEA047
#A89C4C
#A39852
#9D9458
#978F5E
#918B63
#8C8769

Hues

#B4A541
#6DB441
#41B46B
#41A7B4
#4150B4
#8841B4
#B4418A
#B44E41

Color Harmonies

Analogous

#B46B41
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#B5A642
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100%
#8AB441
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Complementary

#B5A642
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100%
#4150B4
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Split Complementary

#B5A642
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100%
#418AB4
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#6B41B4
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Triadic

#B5A642
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100%
#41B4A5
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#A541B4
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Tetradic

#B5A642
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100%
#41B46B
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#4150B4
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#B4418A
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Square

#B5A642
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100%
#41B46B
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#4150B4
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#B4418A
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CSS & Dev Snippets

CSS
.brass {
  color: #B5A642;
}
SCSS
$brass: #B5A642;
RGB
rgb(181, 166, 66)

Accessibility & Contrast

White background

2.47:1
2.47
contrast ratio on a white background
Element
AA
AAA
Small text
Large text
UI element

Black background

8.50:1
8.50
contrast ratio on a black background
Element
AA
AAA
Small text
Large text
UI element

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