Ivory Color Palette
Ivory is hex #FFFFF0, rgb(255, 255, 240). Ivory is an off-white with a very slight yellow tint, named after the material. It is nearly white, so it works anywhere pure white feels too harsh.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Ivory color codes
Reading the ivory color codes
The hex code #FFFFF0 is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. FF is 255, FF is 255 and F0 is 240, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(255, 255, 240) in CSS. The red channel is the strongest here, which is what gives ivory its yellow-orange character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 60 degrees places ivory in the yellow-orange part of the color wheel. Saturation of 100% makes it vivid, and lightness of 97% makes it a very light color. HSL is the easiest format to adjust by hand: keep the hue, then raise or lower lightness to create tints and shades that stay in the same family.
For print, the approximate CMYK mix is 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 6% yellow and 0% black. Screen and print colors never match perfectly, because monitors emit light while ink absorbs it, so always proof a printed sample before committing to ivory for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Ivory shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #FFFFF0, so you can use ivory for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"ivory": {
50: "#FFFFF0",
100: "#ECECDC",
200: "#DADAC8",
300: "#C7C7B4",
400: "#B4B4A0",
500: "#A1A18C",
600: "#8F8F78",
700: "#7C7C63",
800: "#69694F",
900: "#56563B",
950: "#444427",
},
},
},
}:root {
--ivory-50: #FFFFF0;
--ivory-100: #ECECDC;
--ivory-200: #DADAC8;
--ivory-300: #C7C7B4;
--ivory-400: #B4B4A0;
--ivory-500: #A1A18C;
--ivory-600: #8F8F78;
--ivory-700: #7C7C63;
--ivory-800: #69694F;
--ivory-900: #56563B;
--ivory-950: #444427;
}A shade-by-shade guide to ivory
The 50 to 950 scale above follows the same structure as Tailwind's built-in palettes, so each step has a natural job. The lightest steps, 50 (#FFFFF0) and 100 (#ECECDC), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the ivory mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#DADAC8) and 300 (#C7C7B4) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where ivory is most recognizable, so use it for brand moments, illustrations and primary buttons. White text reaches the 4.5:1 body-text contrast minimum from step 800 upward, so use step 800 or darker when a button label needs to be white. Near-black text stays readable on steps 50 to 600.
The darkest steps, 800 (#69694F) through 950 (#444427), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to ivory. Using step 900 or 950 for text instead of pure black is one of the simplest ways to make an interface feel designed rather than default.
Colors that go with ivory
How the ivory color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from ivory is #F0F0FF, which sits closest to lavender among common named colors. Complementary pairs create the strongest contrast of hue, so use the second color sparingly, for a single call to action or highlight, rather than in equal amounts.
Analogous. #FFF8F0 and #F8FFF0 sit 30 degrees either side of ivory. Analogous palettes feel calm and cohesive because the colors share undertones; they are ideal for illustrations, gradients and backgrounds where you want harmony more than contrast.
Triadic and split complementary. The triadic set (#F0FFFF and #FFF0FF) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to off white. The split complementary set (#F0F8FF and #F8F0FF) keeps much of the complementary contrast but is easier to balance, which makes it a good choice for data visualization and multi-category tags.
Monochromatic. The monochromatic set runs from #FFFFD6 to #FFFF61. A single-hue palette is the safest way to build a calm, premium interface: rely on lightness for hierarchy, then add one neutral and one accent if you need emphasis.
Ivory compared with similar colors
off white (#FAF9F6) is about as light and more muted, and leans back the wheel toward yellow-orange. Choose off white if you want a softer, airier version; choose ivory if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
beige (#F5F5DC) is darker (91% vs 97% lightness) and more muted, and shares almost the same hue. Choose beige if you need more weight and contrast; choose ivory if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
cream (#FFFDD0) is darker (91% vs 97% lightness) and similarly saturated, and shares almost the same hue. Choose cream if you need more weight and contrast; choose ivory if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
Ivory in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here ivory carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
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Using ivory in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. White labels on ivory only reach 1.01:1, so use dark text (20.81:1 with black) or a deeper shade for the button.
- Text. Avoid ivory for body text on white; use step 800 or darker for links and headings that need to read as ivory.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a vivid very light color draw attention, so give them a reason, like a hero section or pricing highlight.
- Dark mode. Steps 900 and 950 make a dark surface tinted with ivory. On dark backgrounds the base color often needs a lighter step (300 or 400) to keep enough contrast for icons and borders, as required by WCAG non-text contrast.
- States. Shift one step darker for hover and two steps darker for pressed. Keep focus rings in a contrasting color so keyboard users can always see them.
Contrast and accessibility
AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text. AAA needs 7:1.
Color contrast is measured as a ratio from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white). Ivory scores 1.01:1 against white (Fail) and 20.81:1 against black (AAA). The WCAG 2.1 contrast guideline asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which is why the shade guide above recommends specific steps for text and labels.
Contrast is only half of accessibility. Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, so never use ivory alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What ivory means
Warm neutrals like beige, cream and ivory feel calm, soft and timeless. They are the quiet base that lets other colors carry the message.
Ivory is named after the material of elephant tusks. As a color it is an off-white with a faint yellow tint and is a traditional choice for wedding dresses and formal stationery.
Off-white and cream backgrounds reduce glare compared with pure white. Keep text dark enough: light neutrals can make mid-grey text unreadable.
Where ivory works best
- Wedding and formal design
- Luxury packaging
- Reading apps
- Classic interiors
How to style ivory
Ivory pairs with black, charcoal, deep green, navy and gold. Use it anywhere you would use white but want less glare. Keep text dark and use one deep accent for actions.
Build a UI with ivory
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #FFFFF0 as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Ivory · History and definition of ivory.
- WCAG 2.1: Contrast (Minimum) · The W3C rule behind the 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds used on this page.
- WCAG 2.1: Use of Color · Why color should never be the only way information is shown.
- MDN: CSS color values · Reference for hex, rgb() and hsl() syntax.
- Tailwind CSS: Customizing colors · How to add a custom color scale to your theme.
Similar colors
Questions people ask
What is the hex code for ivory?
The hex code for ivory used on this page is #FFFFF0. In RGB that is rgb(255, 255, 240), and in HSL it is hsl(60, 100%, 97%).
What colors go well with ivory?
Ivory pairs well with #ECE6D6, #1E1E1E, #8B7D6B (the Keys palette above). Its complementary color is #F0F0FF, and analogous colors are #FFF8F0 and #F8FFF0.
Is ivory a warm or cool color?
Ivory is a neutral color. Its hue sits at 60 degrees on the color wheel with 100% saturation.
Can I use ivory for text?
Ivory has a contrast ratio of 1.01:1 against white and 20.81:1 against black. Body text needs at least 4.5:1, so it works as a background behind dark text, but not as text on white.
What does ivory mean?
Warm neutrals like beige, cream and ivory feel calm, soft and timeless. They are the quiet base that lets other colors carry the message. Ivory in particular is used for wedding and formal design and luxury packaging.
How do I use ivory in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#FFFFF0] for a one-off, or add the 50-950 scale from this page to theme.extend.colors in tailwind.config.js and use classes like bg-ivory-500 and text-ivory-900.
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