Apricot vs Honey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Apricot and Honey is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Honey is more saturated. Apricot (#FBCEB1) has an HSL of 24°, 90%, 84%, whereas Honey (#EB9605) sits at 38°, 96%, 47%.

Apricot#FBCEB1

Honey#EB9605

#FBCEB1Blended: #F3B25B#EB9605

Apricot vs Honey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Apricot Honey

BrightnessVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentleMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=96%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOrangeOrange

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#FBCEB1#EB9605

RGB251, 206, 177235, 150, 5

Can you use Apricot and Honey together?

Honey text on Apricot

Apricot text on Honey

Contrast Ratio:1.64:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Apricot and Honey Apart

●Look at lightness first: Apricot is noticeably lighter.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 14° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Apricot vs Honey in Design

Use Apricot for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Use Honey for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Apricot and Honey Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Apricot#FBCEB1

Apricot (#FBCEB1) is a very light, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Honey#EB9605

Honey (#EB9605) is a medium, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Apricot and Honey WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview

Apricot text on white

1.44:1Fail

Sample text preview

Apricot text on black

14.57:1AAA

Sample text preview

Honey text on white

2.36:1Fail

Sample text preview

Honey text on black

8.9:1AAA

Sample text preview

Apricot text on Honey

1.64:1Fail

Sample text preview

Honey text on Apricot

1.64:1Fail

Explore Apricot and Honey individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Apricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairings Honey color page#EB9605 · shades, tints, pairings

More Apricot and Honey Comparisons

Apricot vs Honey FAQ

What is the difference between apricot and honey?+

The main difference between Apricot and Honey is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Honey is more saturated. Apricot (#FBCEB1) has an HSL of 24°, 90%, 84%, whereas Honey (#EB9605) sits at 38°, 96%, 47%.

Is apricot darker than honey?+

No. Honey is the darker of the two at 47% lightness, while Apricot sits higher at 84%.

Are apricot and honey the same color?+

No. Apricot is #FBCEB1 and Honey is #EB9605. They differ by 14° in hue, 37% in lightness, and 6% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, apricot or honey?+

Honey is more saturated. In HSL, Apricot has 90% saturation and Honey has 96% — Honey is the more vivid of the two, while Apricot reads as more muted.

Is apricot warm or cool?+

Apricot (#FBCEB1) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 24° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Is honey warm or cool?+

Honey (#EB9605) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 38° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use apricot and honey together?+

Yes. Both apricot and honey are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use honey as the dominant color and apricot as the accent or highlight.

What color family does apricot belong to?+

Apricot belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 24°, 90%, 84% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.

What is the hex code for apricot?+

The hex code for Apricot is #FBCEB1. In RGB, that's rgb(251, 206, 177), and in HSL it's hsl(24, 90%, 84%).

What is the hex code for honey?+

The hex code for Honey is #EB9605. In RGB, that's rgb(235, 150, 5), and in HSL it's hsl(38, 96%, 47%).