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Apricot vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Apricot and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Apricot is more saturated. Apricot (#FBCEB1) has an HSL of 24°, 90%, 84%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Apricot#FBCEB1
Ochre#CC7722
#FBCEB1Blended: #E4A36A#CC7722
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Apricot vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Apricot Ochre
BrightnessVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentleMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FBCEB1#CC7722
RGB251, 206, 177204, 119, 34

Can you use Apricot and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Apricot
Apricot text on Ochre
Contrast Ratio:2.34:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Apricot and Ochre Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Apricot is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Apricot looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Apricot or Ochre: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickApricot

Apricot is more saturated (90% HSL vs 71%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Ochre can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickOchre

Ochre hits a 3.37:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Apricot only reaches 1.44:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickApricot

Apricot is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Ochre leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickOchre

Ochre is the more muted of the two (71% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Apricot's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Apricot vs Ochre in Design

Use Apricot for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges
Use Ochre for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges

Apricot and Ochre 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
Ochre#CC7722

Ochre (#CC7722) 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 Ochre 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
Ochre text on white
3.37:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Ochre text on black
6.23:1AA
Sample text preview
Apricot text on Ochre
2.34:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ochre text on Apricot
2.34:1Fail

Explore Apricot and Ochre individually

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

Apricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairingsOchre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Apricot and Ochre Comparisons

TanvsApricotTanvsOchreApricotvsRoseRustvsOchreApricotvsPinkPeruvsOchreRustvsApricotSandvsOchrePeruvsApricotPeachvsOchreSandvsApricotHoneyvsOchre

Apricot vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between apricot and ochre?+
The main difference between Apricot and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Apricot is more saturated. Apricot (#FBCEB1) has an HSL of 24°, 90%, 84%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.
Is apricot darker than ochre?+
No. Ochre is the darker of the two at 47% lightness, while Apricot sits higher at 84%.
Are apricot and ochre the same color?+
No. Apricot is #FBCEB1 and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 6° in hue, 37% in lightness, and 19% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, apricot or ochre?+
Apricot is more saturated. In HSL, Apricot has 90% saturation and Ochre has 71% — Apricot is the more vivid of the two, while Ochre 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 ochre warm or cool?+
Ochre (#CC7722) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 30° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use apricot and ochre together?+
Yes. Both apricot and ochre are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use ochre 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 ochre?+
The hex code for Ochre is #CC7722. In RGB, that's rgb(204, 119, 34), and in HSL it's hsl(30, 71%, 47%).