Shades of Tan: Names and Hex Codes
This is a practical reference for the most useful shades of tan, with accurate hex codes, RGB values, and notes on character and use. Tan is a light-to-mid warm brown — essentially a sun-bleached, sandy neutral — so it reads as natural, casual, and grounded, but small shifts toward yellow, pink, gray, or olive change it from golden to peachy to muted khaki. Use the table below as a citable palette, then read on for how the shades group together.
For two neutrals tan is constantly confused with, compare tan vs beige and khaki vs tan. The closely related warm neutrals are covered in our shades of beige and shades of cream references.
Shades of tan: full table
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tan | #D2B48C | 210, 180, 140 | CSS named tan; classic sandy brown. |
| Camel | #C19A6B | 193, 154, 107 | Warm golden-brown tan; fashion staple. |
| Khaki | #C3B091 | 195, 176, 145 | Dusty tan-beige; muted military tone. |
| Sand | #C2B280 | 194, 178, 128 | Desert sand neutral; grayish-yellow. |
| Fawn | #E5AA70 | 229, 170, 112 | Soft yellow-brown; warm and light. |
| Desert Sand | #EDC9AF | 237, 201, 175 | Pale peachy tan; soft and warm. |
| Burlywood | #DEB887 | 222, 184, 135 | CSS light woody tan; soft natural. |
| Chocolate Tan | #D2691E | 210, 105, 30 | CSS chocolate; deep orange-tan. |
| Peru | #CD853F | 205, 133, 63 | CSS warm tan-brown; rich and golden. |
| Sand Dune | #D2B55B | 210, 181, 91 | Deeper golden tan; muted ochre. |
| Café au Lait | #A0785A | 160, 120, 90 | Milky coffee tan; medium brown. |
| Dark Khaki | #BDB76B | 189, 183, 107 | CSS dark khaki; olive-tan. |
| Soft Tan | #C8AD7F | 200, 173, 127 | Gentle mid tan; warm neutral. |
| Bistre Tan | #967117 | 150, 113, 23 | Deep olive-gold tan; earthy. |
| Desert | #E1C699 | 225, 198, 153 | Warm golden sand tan. |
| Dark Tan | #AF8F5B | 175, 143, 91 | Deeper muted tan; warm and rich. |
| Caramel | #A17249 | 161, 114, 73 | Golden-brown tan; sweet and warm. |
| Mushroom Tan | #988558 | 152, 133, 88 | Muted greenish tan; soft and earthy. |
| Wheat Tan | #E3C16F | 227, 193, 111 | Golden wheat tan; warm and bright. |
| Tan Brown | #B08D57 | 176, 141, 87 | Deeper antique tan; muted gold. |
| Wheat | #F5DEB3 | 245, 222, 179 | CSS wheat; pale golden tan. |
| Oat Tan | #DAC8AD | 218, 200, 173 | Soft cereal tan; cozy neutral. |
| Leather Tan | #9C7A54 | 156, 122, 84 | Warm saddle-leather tan. |
| Pale Tan | #EFDFBB | 239, 223, 187 | Creamy light tan; off-white warmth. |
| Taupe Tan | #7E6B4F | 126, 107, 79 | Gray-brown tan; muted and deep. |
Pale, sandy tans
The lightest tans border on beige. Pale Tan (#EFDFBB), Wheat (#F5DEB3), Desert Sand (#EDC9AF), Oat Tan (#DAC8AD), and Burlywood (#DEB887) are soft, light neutrals with just enough warmth to feel inviting rather than washed-out. These are the colors that blur the line between tan and beige; the difference is mostly depth and saturation, which the tan vs beige comparison breaks down. They work as warm backgrounds and surfaces in natural, organic palettes, pairing easily with white, wood, and muted greens.
Classic golden tans
The defining tans sit in the warm golden middle. Tan (#D2B48C) itself, Camel (#C19A6B), Fawn (#E5AA70), Wheat Tan (#E3C16F), and Desert (#E1C699) are the sun-warmed, sandy browns most people picture — balanced, casual, and grounded. The CSS named Tan at #D2B48C is the baseline, a clean sandy brown with no strong color cast. Camel is the slightly deeper, richer fashion staple, while Fawn leans a touch more golden and soft. These mid tans anchor casual, heritage, and outdoor palettes effortlessly.
Muted khaki and olive tans
Pull tan toward green or gray and it turns military. Khaki (#C3B091), Sand (#C2B280), Dark Khaki (#BDB76B), Mushroom Tan (#988558), and Bistre Tan (#967117) carry an olive or gray undertone that reads as utilitarian and earthy. Khaki and tan are so close that they are frequently used interchangeably, though khaki is the cooler, more muted of the two — see khaki vs tan for the distinction. These muted tans suit rugged, outdoor, and workwear aesthetics, and Taupe Tan (#7E6B4F) sits at the deepest, grayest end as a sophisticated near-neutral.
Deep, brown tans
The darkest tans edge into brown. Caramel (#A17249), Café au Lait (#A0785A), Leather Tan (#9C7A54), Dark Tan (#AF8F5B), and Peru (#CD853F) are richer, warmer browns that retain tan’s sandy character while adding depth. These are the colors of leather, saddle, and roasted coffee — they feel crafted and substantial, making them strong choices for heritage branding, packaging, and accents. Chocolate Tan (#D2691E) is the most saturated, an orange-tan that brings real warmth and energy to an otherwise muted family.
Most popular shades of tan
The tans most people name and use are Tan (#D2B48C) as the classic baseline, Camel (#C19A6B) for a richer golden tan, Khaki (#C3B091) for a muted military tone, Fawn (#E5AA70) for a soft warm option, and Sand (#C2B280) for a grayish desert neutral. Together they cover pale through golden to deep brown, which is why they anchor most casual, natural palettes.
How to use shades of tan in design
Tan is the most versatile warm neutral, casual where beige is refined and lighter where brown is heavy. Use pale tans like wheat and oat as backgrounds, classic golden tans like camel and fawn for primary elements, and deep leather or caramel tans for accents and grounding. Tan pairs beautifully with cream, olive green, navy, rust, and white, evoking the outdoors, craft, and relaxed warmth. The main risk is flatness: a palette of similar mid tans can read as muddy, so introduce a clear darker tone or a clean white for contrast and hierarchy. A reliable approach builds a warm value scale — a pale tan background, a camel or fawn mid-tone, and a deep leather tan or brown for text and emphasis, all sharing the same warm undertone. Because tan signals approachability and natural materials, it suits outdoor, food, and lifestyle brands far better than a cool gray would. For the psychology that makes tan read as grounded and relaxed, see color psychology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for tan?
The CSS named color “tan” is #D2B48C (RGB 210, 180, 140), a classic light sandy brown. For a richer golden tan use Camel (#C19A6B), for a muted military tone use Khaki (#C3B091), and for a soft pale option use Fawn (#E5AA70) or Desert Sand (#EDC9AF).
What is the difference between tan and beige?
Tan (#D2B48C) is a deeper, more saturated warm brown, while beige (#F5F5DC) is paler and closer to off-white. Tan reads as a light brown with clear warmth; beige reads as a barely-there neutral. In short, tan is darker and browner; beige is lighter and softer.
What is the difference between khaki and tan?
Khaki (#C3B091) is a cooler, more muted tan with an olive or gray undertone, while tan (#D2B48C) is warmer and more golden. Khaki feels utilitarian and military; tan feels casual and natural. They overlap closely, but khaki is the dustier, greener of the two.
How many shades of tan are there?
Tan variations are effectively limitless because tan spans a band of light-to-mid warm browns, but designers typically reference 20 to 30 named shades. This list includes 25 of the most recognized, from pale wheat and oat through classic camel and fawn to deep leather and caramel tans.
