Pullman Brown (UPS Brown)

HEX: #644117 | Modern Palette

On White
9.09:1
PASS
On Black
2.31:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#644117
RGB
100, 65, 23
HSL
32°, 77% ,39%
CMYK
0, 35, 77, 60.78

About Pullman Brown (UPS Brown)

Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) (#644117) is a color with RGB(100, 65, 23) and HSL(32.73°, 77%, 39.22%). It is commonly associated with Energetic moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #173A64, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #176441 and #411764. The name comes from Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) (English).

  • HEX: #644117
  • RGB: 100, 65, 23
  • HSL: 32.73°, 77%, 39.22%
  • Mood: Energetic
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #173A64
  • Triadic colors: #176441, #411764
  • The name comes from Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.

Color Harmonies

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

Shades & Tints

A seamless scale of #644117 from deepest shade to lightest tint.

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #4D4D14
Protanopia #464618
Tritanopia #663D3D
Achromatopsia #484848

Frequently Asked Questions

Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) (#644117) is a color with RGB(100, 65, 23) and HSL(32.73°, 77%, 39.22%).

#644117 pairs strongly with #173A64 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#644117 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#644117 is commonly associated with Energetic.

The name Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) is linked to Pullman Brown (UPS Brown) from English, meaning A specific shade of brown, historically associated with the Pullman Company and later adopted by UPS..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Pullman Brown (UPS Brown)
Meaning A specific shade of brown, historically associated with the Pullman Company and later adopted by UPS.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The color 'Pullman Brown' originated with the Pullman Company, famous for its luxury railroad cars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company chose this dark, rich brown for its railcars, uniforms, and branding, symbolizing reliability and understated elegance. In 1916, United Parcel Service (UPS), then known as American Messenger Company, adopted a similar shade of brown for its delivery vehicles and uniforms. The choice was practical: brown was considered a clean color that didn't show dirt easily, and it conveyed a sense of professionalism and dependability. It was also less common among competitors at the time. UPS officially trademarked 'UPS Brown' in 1998, solidifying its association with the company. The specific hex code #644117 is often cited for this color.

First Recorded Use

Circa 1890s (for Pullman Company); 1916 (for UPS)

Cultural Associations

Pullman Brown evokes a sense of classic Americana, luxury travel, and the golden age of rail for those familiar with the Pullman Company's history. For a much broader contemporary audience, 'UPS Brown' is instantly recognizable and strongly associated with package delivery, logistics, and the UPS brand. It symbolizes reliability, efficiency, and a ubiquitous presence in daily commerce. The color has become so synonymous with UPS that the company often refers to itself as 'Brown' in its marketing and internal communications.

Similar Named Colors
Dark Brown #654321 ΔE 2.28
Sepia #704214 ΔE 3.59
Brown-nose #6B4423 ΔE 3.60
Donkey Brown #664C28 ΔE 4.64

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #644117;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #644117;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #644117;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #644117,
        #175DB1
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #644117,
        #175DB1
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$pullman-brown-(ups-brown): #644117;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$pullman-brown-(ups-brown)-r: 100;
$pullman-brown-(ups-brown)-g: 65;
$pullman-brown-(ups-brown)-b: 23;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $pullman-brown-(ups-brown);
    color: rgba($pullman-brown-(ups-brown)-r, $pullman-brown-(ups-brown)-g, $pullman-brown-(ups-brown)-b, 0.8);
}