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Apricot vs Off White: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Apricot and Off White is hue — Apricot is a warm orange, while Off White is a warm off-white. Apricot (#FBCEB1) has an HSL of 24°, 90%, 84%, whereas Off White (#FAF9F6) sits at 45°, 29%, 97%.

Apricot#FBCEB1
Off White#FAF9F6
#FBCEB1Blended: #FBE4D4#FAF9F6
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Apricot vs Off White: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Apricot Off White
BrightnessVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentleVery light (L=97%) — pale, delicate, gentle
SaturationVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=29%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyOrangeOff-white
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FBCEB1#FAF9F6
RGB251, 206, 177250, 249, 246

Can you use Apricot and Off White together?

Off White text on Apricot
Apricot text on Off White
Contrast Ratio:1.37:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Apricot and Off White Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Off White is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Apricot looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 21° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Apricot or Off White: 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 29%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Off White can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickApricot

Apricot hits a 1.44:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Off White only reaches 1.05:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickOff White

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickOff White

Off White is the more muted of the two (29% 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 Off White in Design

Use Apricot for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges
Use Off White for:
●Backgrounds and page surfaces
●Minimalist editorial design
●Luxury clean aesthetics
●Soft wedding invitations
●Wellness and spa brands

Apricot and Off White 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
Off White#FAF9F6

Off White (#FAF9F6) is a very light, muted off-white with a warm undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Apricot and Off White 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
Off White text on white
1.05:1Fail
Sample text preview
Off White text on black
19.95:1AAA
Sample text preview
Apricot text on Off White
1.37:1Fail
Sample text preview
Off White text on Apricot
1.37:1Fail

Explore Apricot and Off White individually

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

Apricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairingsOff White color page#FAF9F6 · shades, tints, pairings

More Apricot and Off White Comparisons

TanvsApricotOff WhitevsSnowApricotvsRoseOff WhitevsEcruApricotvsPinkSandvsOff WhiteRustvsApricotOff WhitevsWhitePeruvsApricotIvoryvsOff WhiteSandvsApricotCreamvsOff White

Apricot vs Off White FAQ

What is the difference between apricot and off white?+
The main difference between Apricot and Off White is hue — Apricot is a warm orange, while Off White is a warm off-white. Apricot (#FBCEB1) has an HSL of 24°, 90%, 84%, whereas Off White (#FAF9F6) sits at 45°, 29%, 97%.
Is apricot darker than off white?+
Yes. Apricot is darker, with a lightness of 84% in HSL compared to Off White at 97% — a 13-point gap.
Are apricot and off white the same color?+
No. Apricot is #FBCEB1 and Off White is #FAF9F6. They differ by 21° in hue, 13% in lightness, and 61% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, apricot or off white?+
Apricot is more saturated. In HSL, Apricot has 90% saturation and Off White has 29% — Apricot is the more vivid of the two, while Off White 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 off white warm or cool?+
Off White (#FAF9F6) is a warm off-white. Its hue sits at 45° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use apricot and off white together?+
Yes. Apricot (orange) and Off White (off-white) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
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 off white?+
The hex code for Off White is #FAF9F6. In RGB, that's rgb(250, 249, 246), and in HSL it's hsl(45, 29%, 97%).