Tie Color Matcher: What Color Tie Goes With Your Suit and Shirt

The tie color that goes with almost any suit and shirt is navy or burgundy: both contrast with every common suit color and sit well on white, light blue and pink shirts. Beyond those two, choose a tie that is darker than your shirt and clearly different from your suit, then fit the color to the occasion. Pick your suit and shirt in the matcher above to see the best tie colors, the ones to skip and why.

What color tie goes with each suit?

Suit	Best ties	Also works	Skip
Navy	Burgundy, forest green, gold	Brown, pink, purple, silver	Black
Charcoal	Burgundy, silver, medium blue	Navy, green, purple, pink	Charcoal
Medium gray	Navy, burgundy, medium blue	Pink, purple, green	Charcoal
Light gray	Navy, light blue, pink	Lavender, burgundy, gold, sage	Silver, black
Black	Silver, burgundy, black	Charcoal, navy	Yellow, green, brown
Medium blue	Burgundy, navy, brown	Rust, gold, pink	Light blue, black
Brown	Forest green, burgundy, gold	Rust, navy	Black, brown
Tan or beige	Navy, brown, burgundy	Forest green, light blue	Gold, black

Each suit color has its own guide with shirt and tie combinations: ties for a blue suit, ties for a charcoal suit and ties for a gray suit. For black, see how to wear a black suit.

How to match a tie with a suit and shirt

A tie matches a suit and shirt when it is darker than the shirt, different from the suit and calm enough for the event. Four rules cover almost every outfit:

• Darker than the shirt: the tie should be darker than the shirt, so it reads as a clear line down the chest. A pale tie on a pale shirt disappears.
• Different from the suit: never the exact color of the suit. A navy tie on a navy suit works only when the tie is a clearly darker shade or has a woven texture.
• One bold piece: if the shirt has a pattern, keep the tie solid or give it a pattern of a different scale, such as a small dot with a wide stripe.
• Warm with warm, cool with cool: brown and tan suits take warm ties (green, burgundy, gold, rust). Navy, gray and charcoal take almost anything, which is why they are the easiest suits to own.

What color tie goes with a white shirt?

Any tie color goes with a white shirt, so the suit decides. Navy and burgundy are the safest, silver is the most formal, and pink, light blue or gold are the brightest choices for daytime weddings. White is the one shirt where a light tie, like silver or pale pink, still shows clearly.

What color tie goes with a light blue shirt?

Navy, burgundy, gold and rust ties go best with a light blue shirt, because all of them are darker than the shirt and stand out against it. Skip light blue ties, which blend into the shirt. On a navy suit with a light blue shirt, a burgundy tie is the classic office outfit.

What color tie goes with a pink shirt?

Navy, burgundy and charcoal ties go best with a pink shirt. Avoid pink ties unless the shades are very clearly different, and skip bright red and orange, which fight with pink. The full list of pants, shoes and ties is in what to wear with a pink shirt.

Tie colors by occasion

Occasion	Best tie colors	Pattern
Job interview	Navy, burgundy, medium blue	Solid or a small, quiet pattern
Office	Navy, burgundy, blue, gray	Solid, small dot, fine stripe
Wedding guest (day)	Pink, light blue, lavender, sage, gold	Florals, paisley, dots
Wedding or event (evening)	Burgundy, silver, deep purple, forest green	Solid silk or grenadine
Funeral	Black, dark navy, charcoal	Solid, no shine

Never wear a black tie to a wedding (it reads as mourning) or to an interview. If you are not sure how formal an event is, check the men’s dress code guide first, and see how to dress for a wedding for wedding outfits by season.

How wide and how long should a tie be?

A tie should be about as wide as your suit lapels at their widest point, which is around 3 inches for most modern suits, and its tip should reach the middle of your belt buckle. Slimmer lapels take a tie of about 2.5 inches. A tie only fits if the collar does, so check your neck size with the shirt size calculator before buying dress shirts.

Tie Color FAQs

What is the most versatile tie color?

Navy is the most versatile tie color. It works with every common suit except black at most events, with white, light blue and pink shirts, and from interviews to funerals. Burgundy is a close second and adds more warmth.

Should your tie be darker than your shirt?

Yes, a tie should almost always be darker than the shirt. The contrast makes the tie stand out as a clean line down the chest. The exception is a light silver tie on a dark shirt, which is a formal evening look.

Should your tie match your suit?

No, a tie should not match the suit exactly. It should either contrast with the suit (burgundy on navy) or be a clearly different shade of the same color (a dark navy tie on a medium blue suit), so it looks deliberate.

Can you wear a black tie with a navy suit?

A black tie with a navy suit is acceptable at a funeral, but at other events it looks severe and can read as a mistake. Dark navy or burgundy gives the same serious look with better contrast.

What color tie goes with a gray suit and white shirt?

Navy and burgundy are the best ties for a gray suit and white shirt. Medium blue, pink and purple also work well. On a light gray suit, lighter ties like light blue, pale pink or butter yellow suit daytime events.

Should your tie match your shoes?

Your tie doesn’t need to match your shoes. Your belt should match your shoes, while the tie is chosen for the suit and shirt. A brown tie can link to brown shoes, but it is optional.