What color is Tan?
Tan is a pale, warm brown with yellow undertones, hex #D6B588, close to the color of natural linen fabric. It is lighter than caramel but richer than cream, with a soft, dusty quality.
What is the meaning of the color Tan?
Recorded in English as a color name by the mid-19th century, tan originally referred to the brownish tone left on animal hides during the tanning process, which used bark from oak trees soaked in water. The term tanbark, the shredded oak bark used in tanneries, appears in documented trade records from early industrial Britain. As leather goods became mass-produced in the late 1800s, tan became a standardized shade recognized across boot-making and saddlery. The United States Army adopted tan as a field uniform color during the Spanish-American War of 1898, anchoring the color to durable, practical clothing.
What colors go with Tan?
Colors that pair well with Tan include:
Ivory: soft, tonal warmth
Navy Blue: clean, grounding contrast
Terracotta: earthy, rich depth
Olive Green: natural, muted balance
Burgundy: warm, bold contrast
Similar Colors
Conversions & Codes
| Format | Value | CSS |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #D6B588 |
color: #D6B588;
|
| RGB | 214, 181, 136 |
color: rgb(214, 181, 136);
|
| RGB Percentage | 84%, 71%, 53% |
color: rgb(84%, 71%, 53%);
|
| CMYK | 0%, 15%, 36%, 16% | Not supported in CSS |
| HSL | 35°, 49%, 69% |
color: hsl(35, 49%, 69%);
|
| HSV | 35°, 36%, 84% | Not supported in CSS |
| CIE-LAB | 55, 7, 15 |
color: lab(55% 7 15);
|
| Decimal | 14071176 | Not supported in CSS |
Color Variations
Shades
Tints
Tones
Hues
Color Harmonies
Analogous
Complementary
Split Complementary
Triadic
Tetradic
Square
CSS & Dev Snippets
.tan {
color: #D6B588;
}
$tan: #D6B588;
rgb(214, 181, 136)