#81312F
Pantone Solid Coated

Pantone 181 C

Dark maroon

  • One of 129 colors in Pantone Brown Colors.
  • White text works best (8.70:1, passes WCAG AAA).
  • No close RAL match (nearest ΔE 5.4).

Color values

HEX, RGB and CMYK are screen and process approximations, not official Pantone values. Tap a value to copy it.

Text on this color

Aa White text8.70:1 · Passes AAA for all text
Aa Black text2.41:1 · Not readable — avoid

Similar Pantone colors

Ranked by color difference (ΔE 2000). Below 2 most people cannot tell them apart.

Neighbors by number

Tints and shades

Mixed toward white and black in 20% steps, each matched to the nearest Pantone color.

Tints (toward white)

Shades (toward black)

Black 4 C#31261DΔE 8.7 · visibly different

Color schemes

Hue rotations in OKLCH at the same lightness and chroma, matched to the nearest Pantone color.

Complementary

181 C#81312FBase color

Analogous

181 C#81312FBase color

Triadic

181 C#81312FBase color

Closest RAL and NCS colors

RAL 3011 Brown Red#781F19ΔE 5.4 · visibly different
RAL 3004 Purple Red#75151EΔE 5.8 · visibly different
NCS S 5040-Y80R#864031NCS (published crosswalk) · ΔE 5.6 · visibly different
NCS S 5040-Y90R#863732NCS (nearest on screen) · ΔE 1.9 · very close

The crosswalk code is the commonly published NCS equivalent; its on-screen swatch is only an approximation, so compare physical samples.

No RAL Classic color is a close match for Pantone 181 C. The nearest option differs visibly, so ask your supplier for a custom mix if you need it in RAL-based paint or powder coating.

Compare more options in the Pantone to RAL and Pantone to NCS converters.

How it looks with color blindness

Protanopia (red-blind)Looks like #45412E, near 7771 C · shift ΔE 26.2
Deuteranopia (green-blind)Looks like #59522D, near 5815 C · shift ΔE 28.2
Tritanopia (blue-blind)Looks like #8D2131, near 202 C · shift ΔE 4.9

The color shifts noticeably for protanopia and deuteranopia. Do not rely on this color alone to signal status or meaning; add a label or icon. Simulation uses the Machado et al. (2009) model.

About Pantone 181 C

181 C is a dark maroon or oxblood red and the darkest step of the 176–181 C run.

On screen it is practically identical to 7624 C (ΔE 0.5). The nearest RAL color, RAL 3011 Brown Red, differs a little (ΔE 5.4). White text passes WCAG AAA (8.7:1).

Use in code

CSS
:root {
  --pantone-181-c: #81312F;
}
.brand {
  background-color: var(--pantone-181-c);
  color: #FFFFFF;
}
SCSS
$pantone-181-c: #81312F;
Tailwind
// tailwind.config.js → theme.extend.colors
'pantone-181-c': '#81312F',

<div class="bg-[#81312F]">…</div>

Frequently asked questions

What is the HEX code for Pantone 181 C?

The screen approximation used on this site is #81312F, which is RGB 129, 49, 47.

What are the CMYK values for Pantone 181 C?

A process approximation is C 0, M 62, Y 64, K 49. Spot inks can look different from a four-color build, so proof important jobs.

What is the closest RAL color to Pantone 181 C?

No RAL Classic color is a close match. The nearest, RAL 3011 Brown Red, differs visibly (ΔE 5.4).

What does the “C” in the name mean?

“C” stands for coated: the reference shows how the ink looks on coated (glossy) paper. The same ink usually looks darker and duller on uncoated paper.

Should I use white or black text on Pantone 181 C?

White text reads better, with a contrast ratio of 8.70:1 (passes WCAG AAA).

Related tools

This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone LLC. Pantone® is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC. The color values provided here are for reference purposes only and may not be 100% accurate representations of official Pantone colors.

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