Off White Color Palette
Off White is hex #FAF9F6, rgb(250, 249, 246). Off-white covers any white with a slight tint. #FAF9F6 is a popular warm version that keeps text crisp while removing the glare of pure #FFFFFF.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Off White color codes
Reading the off white color codes
The hex code #FAF9F6 is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. FA is 250, F9 is 249 and F6 is 246, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(250, 249, 246) in CSS. The red channel is the strongest here, which is what gives off white its yellow-orange character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 45 degrees places off white in the yellow-orange part of the color wheel. Saturation of 29% makes it muted, 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, 2% yellow and 2% 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 off white for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Off White shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #FAF9F6, so you can use off white for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"off-white": {
50: "#FAF9F6",
100: "#E7E6E2",
200: "#D4D2CF",
300: "#C0BFBB",
400: "#ADABA7",
500: "#9A9894",
600: "#878580",
700: "#73716C",
800: "#605E59",
900: "#4D4A45",
950: "#3A3731",
},
},
},
}:root {
--off-white-50: #FAF9F6;
--off-white-100: #E7E6E2;
--off-white-200: #D4D2CF;
--off-white-300: #C0BFBB;
--off-white-400: #ADABA7;
--off-white-500: #9A9894;
--off-white-600: #878580;
--off-white-700: #73716C;
--off-white-800: #605E59;
--off-white-900: #4D4A45;
--off-white-950: #3A3731;
}A shade-by-shade guide to off white
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 (#FAF9F6) and 100 (#E7E6E2), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the off white mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#D4D2CF) and 300 (#C0BFBB) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where off white 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 700 upward, so use step 700 or darker when a button label needs to be white. Near-black text stays readable on steps 50 to 600.
The darkest steps, 800 (#605E59) through 950 (#3A3731), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to off white. 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 off white
How the off white color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from off white is #F6F7FA, which sits closest to ivory 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. #FAF7F6 and #F9FAF6 sit 30 degrees either side of off white. 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 (#F6FAF9 and #F9F6FA) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to ivory. The split complementary set (#F6F9FA and #F7F6FA) 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 #F0EEE5 to #C7BC9A. 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.
Off White compared with similar colors
ivory (#FFFFF0) is about as light and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward yellow-orange. Choose ivory if you need more weight and contrast; choose off white if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
beige (#F5F5DC) is darker (91% vs 97% lightness) and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward yellow-orange. Choose beige if you need more weight and contrast; choose off white if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
lavender (#E6E6FA) is about as light and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward indigo. Choose lavender if you need more weight and contrast; choose off white if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
Off White in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here off white carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
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Using off white in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. White labels on off white only reach 1.05:1, so use dark text (19.95:1 with black) or a deeper shade for the button.
- Text. Avoid off white for body text on white; use step 700 or darker for links and headings that need to read as off white.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a muted 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 off white. 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). Off White scores 1.05:1 against white (Fail) and 19.95:1 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 off white alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What off white 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.
Off-white is any white with a slight tint. Designers moved toward off-whites as screens got brighter, because pure white backgrounds can feel harsh in long reading sessions.
Off-white and cream backgrounds reduce glare compared with pure white. Keep text dark enough: light neutrals can make mid-grey text unreadable.
Where off white works best
- Website backgrounds
- Editorial design
- Minimalist brands
- Product photography backdrops
How to style off white
A warm off-white like this pairs with charcoal text, terracotta, olive and deep blue. Use it as your page background and keep cards and inputs either slightly lighter or slightly darker to create layers without borders.
Build a UI with off white
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #FAF9F6 as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- 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 off white?
The hex code for off white used on this page is #FAF9F6. In RGB that is rgb(250, 249, 246), and in HSL it is hsl(45, 29%, 97%).
What colors go well with off white?
Off White pairs well with #EDEAE4, #1C1C1C, #8A8178 (the Gallery Wall palette above). Its complementary color is #F6F7FA, and analogous colors are #FAF7F6 and #F9FAF6.
Is off white a warm or cool color?
Off White is a neutral color. Its hue sits at 45 degrees on the color wheel with 29% saturation.
Can I use off white for text?
Off White has a contrast ratio of 1.05:1 against white and 19.95:1 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 off white 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. Off White in particular is used for website backgrounds and editorial design.
How do I use off white in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#FAF9F6] 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-off-white-500 and text-off-white-900.
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