What color is Parchment?
Parchment is a warm, pale off-white with soft yellow and beige undertones, hex #F1E9D2. It has the quiet, slightly aged tone of unbleached linen. The color is light without being stark or cool.
What is the meaning of the color Parchment?
Named after the treated animal skin used as a writing surface across Europe and the Middle East from roughly the 2nd century BCE onward, parchment as a color reflects the natural creamy tan of that material. The name entered English as a color reference as manuscript culture spread through medieval scriptoria and royal chanceries, where parchment was the standard surface for legal documents and religious texts. By the 18th century, the color had become associated with formal documents and educated institutions, a link reinforced when heavyweight stationery makers such as Crane and Co. began producing writing papers in this shade marketed to universities and law firms. Harvard University has long used parchment-toned paper for its official degree certificates, anchoring the color to academic achievement.
What colors go with Parchment?
Colors that pair well with Parchment include:
Burnt Sienna: warm, earthy depth
Sage Green: soft, natural balance
Navy Blue: crisp, formal contrast
Charcoal: grounded, quiet anchor
Dusty Rose: gentle, warm softness
Similar Colors
Conversions & Codes
| Format | Value | CSS |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #F1E9D2 |
color: #F1E9D2;
|
| RGB | 241, 233, 210 |
color: rgb(241, 233, 210);
|
| RGB Percentage | 95%, 91%, 82% |
color: rgb(95%, 91%, 82%);
|
| CMYK | 0%, 3%, 13%, 5% | Not supported in CSS |
| HSL | 45°, 53%, 88% |
color: hsl(45, 53%, 88%);
|
| HSV | 45°, 13%, 95% | Not supported in CSS |
| CIE-LAB | 70, 2, 8 |
color: lab(70% 2 8);
|
| Decimal | 15854034 | Not supported in CSS |
Color Variations
Shades
Tints
Tones
Hues
Color Harmonies
Analogous
Complementary
Split Complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square
CSS & Dev Snippets
.parchment {
color: #F1E9D2;
}
$parchment: #F1E9D2;
rgb(241, 233, 210)