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Crimson and Tan

Contrasting color combination with 4.86:1 contrast ratio

#8C000F
#D1B26F

Color Values

Crimson
HEX #8C000F
RGB 140, 0, 15
HSL 354, 100%, 27%
Tan
HEX #D1B26F
RGB 209, 178, 111
HSL 41, 52%, 63%

Harmony: Contrasting

These colors sit far enough apart on the wheel to create clear contrast without falling into a named harmony. The pairing works through difference rather than relationship, which suits designs that want variety over cohesion.

The hue angle between Crimson and Tan is 47 degrees. You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

4.86:1
Crimson background with Tan text
AA normal text, AAA large text

UI Preview

Crimson surface

Sample text on a crimson background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Tan surface

Sample text on a tan background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #8C000F;
  --color-b: #D1B26F;
  --color-a-rgb: 140, 0, 15;
  --color-b-rgb: 209, 178, 111;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "Crimson and Tan",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Crimson",
      "hex": "#8C000F",
      "rgb": [
        140,
        0,
        15
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tan",
      "hex": "#D1B26F",
      "rgb": [
        209,
        178,
        111
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Contrasting",
  "contrastRatio": 4.86
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do crimson and tan go together?

Yes. Crimson and Tan form a contrasting color combination. These colors sit far enough apart on the wheel to create clear contrast without falling into a named harmony. The pairing works through difference rather than relationship, which suits designs that want variety over cohesion. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 4.86:1, which passes AA for large text and UI components.

What is the contrast ratio between crimson and tan?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Crimson (#8C000F) and Tan (#D1B26F) is 4.86:1. This passes AA for normal text and AAA for large text.

How do I use crimson and tan in design?

A safe starting point is the 60/30/10 rule: give one color about 60 percent of the surface area, the other about 30 percent, and reserve the remaining 10 percent for an accent or neutral. If one color is significantly darker, use it for text or structural elements and the lighter one for backgrounds. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.

What are the hex and RGB values for crimson and tan?

Crimson has the hex code #8C000F and RGB values rgb(140, 0, 15). Tan has the hex code #D1B26F and RGB values rgb(209, 178, 111). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.