Rust Color Palette
Rust is hex #B7410E, rgb(183, 65, 14). Rust is the reddish orange-brown of oxidised iron. It is one of the defining colors of 1970s design and of today's earthy, warm palettes.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Rust color codes
Reading the rust color codes
The hex code #B7410E is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. B7 is 183, 41 is 65 and 0E is 14, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(183, 65, 14) in CSS. The red channel is the strongest here, which is what gives rust its orange character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 18 degrees places rust in the orange part of the color wheel. Saturation of 86% makes it vivid, and lightness of 39% makes it a dark 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, 64% magenta, 92% yellow and 28% 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 rust for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Rust shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #B7410E, so you can use rust for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"rust": {
50: "#F3E1D8",
100: "#EBCABC",
200: "#E2B39F",
300: "#DA9C82",
400: "#D18565",
500: "#C86F48",
600: "#C0582B",
700: "#B7410E",
800: "#93340B",
900: "#702808",
950: "#4C1B06",
},
},
},
}:root {
--rust-50: #F3E1D8;
--rust-100: #EBCABC;
--rust-200: #E2B39F;
--rust-300: #DA9C82;
--rust-400: #D18565;
--rust-500: #C86F48;
--rust-600: #C0582B;
--rust-700: #B7410E;
--rust-800: #93340B;
--rust-900: #702808;
--rust-950: #4C1B06;
}A shade-by-shade guide to rust
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 (#F3E1D8) and 100 (#EBCABC), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the rust mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#E2B39F) and 300 (#DA9C82) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where rust 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 500.
The darkest steps, 800 (#93340B) through 950 (#4C1B06), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to rust. 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 rust
How the rust color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from rust is #0E84B7, which sits closest to cerulean 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. #B70E30 and #B7950E sit 30 degrees either side of rust. 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 (#0EB741 and #410EB7) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to lime green. The split complementary set (#0EB796 and #0E2FB7) 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 #F4946A to #321204. 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.
Rust compared with similar colors
burnt orange (#CC5500) is about as light and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward orange. Choose burnt orange if you want a softer, airier version; choose rust if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
ochre (#CC7722) is lighter (47% vs 39% lightness) and more muted, and leans further around the wheel toward orange. Choose ochre if you want a softer, airier version; choose rust if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
chocolate brown (#7B3F00) is darker (24% vs 39% lightness) and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward orange. Choose chocolate brown if you need more weight and contrast; choose rust if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
Rust in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here rust carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
Weekly summary
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Using rust in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. Rust carries white labels at 5.56:1, which passes AA for normal text.
- Text. Rust works as text on white backgrounds.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a vivid dark 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 rust. 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). Rust scores 5.56:1 against white (AA) and 3.78:1 against black (AA large). 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 rust alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What rust means
Orange is warm, social and energetic. Earthy oranges (rust, terracotta, burnt orange) feel grounded and handmade; bright oranges feel playful and fast.
Rust is the color of iron oxide. It became a defining color of 1970s interiors and fashion and returned with the current trend for warm, earthy palettes.
Orange is a strong call-to-action color because it stands out against blue and neutral interfaces. Most mid oranges need dark text, not white, to pass contrast.
Where rust works best
- Outdoor and workwear
- Interior design
- Autumn campaigns
- Craft beer and coffee
How to style rust
Rust pairs with cream, olive, navy, mustard and charcoal. It supports white text comfortably. Use it as a primary for outdoor, craft and coffee brands or as an accent in warm editorial designs.
Build a UI with rust
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #B7410E as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Rust · History and definition of rust.
- 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 rust?
The hex code for rust used on this page is #B7410E. In RGB that is rgb(183, 65, 14), and in HSL it is hsl(18, 86%, 39%).
What colors go well with rust?
Rust pairs well with #E9C9B1, #FAF5EF, #3E3A35 (the Oxide palette above). Its complementary color is #0E84B7, and analogous colors are #B70E30 and #B7950E.
Is rust a warm or cool color?
Rust is a warm color. Its hue sits at 18 degrees on the color wheel with 86% saturation.
Can I use rust for text?
Rust has a contrast ratio of 5.56:1 against white and 3.78:1 against black. Body text needs at least 4.5:1, so it works as text on white backgrounds.
What does rust mean?
Orange is warm, social and energetic. Earthy oranges (rust, terracotta, burnt orange) feel grounded and handmade; bright oranges feel playful and fast. Rust in particular is used for outdoor and workwear and interior design.
How do I use rust in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#B7410E] 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-rust-500 and text-rust-900.
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