Skin Tone Chart
Ten skin tones from very fair to deepest, with level, name and hex code. Also known as a skin color chart.
Tap a tone to copy its hex
Colors and levels: Monk Skin Tone Scale (Ellis Monk, Google), CC BY 4.0. Names and groups added by seasonalcolor.
How skin tones are graded
There is no single official skin color chart. Two scales are used most, and they measure different things.
Monk Skin Tone Scale: what your skin looks like
Developed by Harvard sociologist Ellis Monk and released by Google, it describes skin color in 10 levels from lightest to deepest. It was designed to represent the full range of skin colors more evenly, which is why the chart on this page uses it.
Fitzpatrick scale: how your skin reacts to the sun
Dermatologists use the Fitzpatrick scale to judge sun sensitivity. Its six types describe how skin burns and tans, not an exact color:
- IAlways burns, never tans.
- IIUsually burns, tans with difficulty.
- IIISometimes burns, tans gradually.
- IVRarely burns, tans easily.
- VVery rarely burns, tans very easily.
- VINever burns; deeply pigmented skin.
Tone is depth, undertone is temperature
Both scales grade depth: how light or deep your skin is. Undertone is a separate question: whether the color beneath the surface is warm (golden), cool (pink or blue) or olive (green-grey). Any level on the chart can have any undertone, and undertone is what decides which colors suit you.
The complete skin color chart
All 10 tones with their hex codes. Use the hex values as references for design, makeup swatches or illustration.
| Level | Color | Name | Depth | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #F6EDE4 | Very fair | Fair | The palest skin; veins show easily and it flushes quickly. |
| 2 | #F3E7DB | Fair | Fair | Pale with a soft pink or neutral cast. |
| 3 | #F7EAD0 | Light | Light | Light with a creamy or slightly yellow cast. |
| 4 | #EADABA | Light beige | Light | Light beige; often golden or olive in daylight. |
| 5 | #D7BD96 | Medium beige | Medium | Medium, warm beige; tans to a golden shade. |
| 6 | #A07E56 | Tan | Medium | Medium-deep, golden or olive brown. |
| 7 | #825C43 | Brown | Deep | Warm brown, often with red or golden tones. |
| 8 | #604134 | Deep brown | Deep | Deep brown, from warm chestnut to cool espresso. |
| 9 | #3A312A | Very deep | Very deep | Very deep brown with rich, dark pigment. |
| 10 | #292420 | Deepest | Very deep | The deepest tone, close to brown-black. |
Looking for a word rather than a number? Our list of skin tone names covers the terms people use for each shade. For levels 7 to 10 and how to read undertone at that depth, see the guide to dark skin tones.
How to find your skin tone on the chart
Four steps, two minutes. You only need a window and a mirror or your phone camera.
- 01
Use daylight
Face a window on a bright day. Indoor bulbs turn skin yellow or grey.
- 02
Pick the right spot
Look at your jawline or inner arm, without makeup or self-tan.
- 03
Compare to the chart
Hold your screen next to your skin and pick the closest level; between two is fine.
- 04
Then check undertone
Compare gold and silver, or cream and pure white, near your face. The better one shows warm or cool.
Let a photo do it
Screens and lighting make chart matching approximate. Our free seasonal color analysis reads your skin tone, undertone and contrast from one selfie and tells you your season with a basic palette. It runs in your browser, so the photo stays on your device.
Which seasons suit each skin tone?
Depth narrows it down; undertone and contrast make the call. Every depth appears in several seasons.
| Skin tone | Warm undertone | Cool undertone | Olive / neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair to light (1–4) | Light Spring, Warm Spring | Light Summer, Cool Summer | Soft Summer, Soft Autumn |
| Medium (5–6) | Warm Spring, Warm Autumn | Cool Summer, Soft Summer | Soft Autumn, Deep Autumn |
| Deep to very deep (7–10) | Deep Autumn, Warm Autumn | Deep Winter, Cool Winter | Deep Autumn, Deep Winter |
Very clear, bright eyes can move any depth into a Bright season (Bright Spring or Bright Winter). Deep skin has its own guide: dark skin tones. To get a single answer rather than a shortlist, try the free photo color analysis.
Skin tone chart FAQ
What is a skin tone chart?
A skin tone chart shows a range of skin colors in order, from lightest to deepest, usually with a level number. This one uses the 10 levels of the Monk Skin Tone Scale, each with a hex code.
Is a skin color chart the same as a skin tone chart?
Yes. Skin color chart, skin tone chart and skin tones chart all mean the same thing: a scale of skin colors from light to deep.
How many skin tones are there?
Skin color is continuous, so any number is a simplification. Common scales use 6 types (Fitzpatrick) or 10 levels (Monk). Makeup brands often have 40 or more foundation shades.
What is the difference between the Monk and Fitzpatrick scales?
The Monk scale describes how skin looks, in 10 color levels. The Fitzpatrick scale describes how skin reacts to the sun, in 6 types. They answer different questions, so they do not map exactly onto each other.
What is the difference between skin tone and undertone?
Skin tone is how light or deep your skin is. Undertone is the color underneath: warm, cool or olive. Two people at the same level can have different undertones and suit very different colors.
Can my skin tone change?
Your depth can change with sun exposure, season and age, so you may move a level or two on the chart. Your undertone stays the same.
What season is my skin tone?
Skin tone alone doesn't decide it. Undertone, hair and eye color and contrast matter just as much. The table above gives likely seasons for each depth and undertone; a photo analysis gives a single answer.
Can I check my skin tone for free?
Yes. Upload a selfie to our free seasonal color analysis. It needs no email or sign-up and reads your skin tone, undertone and season from the photo.