Home /Compare /Brick vs Terracotta

Brick vs Terracotta: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Brick and Terracotta is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Terracotta is lighter and Terracotta is more saturated. Brick and Terracotta are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Brick (#CB4154) and Terracotta (#E2725B) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Brick#CB4154
Terracotta#E2725B
#CB4154Blended: #D75A58#E2725B
ShareSave to PinterestTweet

Brick vs Terracotta: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Brick Terracotta
BrightnessMedium (L=53%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=62%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationModerately saturated (S=57%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=70%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#CB4154#E2725B
RGB203, 65, 84226, 114, 91

Can you use Brick and Terracotta together?

Terracotta text on Brick
Brick text on Terracotta
Contrast Ratio:1.54:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Brick and Terracotta Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Terracotta is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Terracotta looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 342° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Brick or Terracotta: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickTerracotta

Terracotta is more saturated (70% HSL vs 57%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Brick can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickBrick

Brick hits a 4.75:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Terracotta only reaches 3.09:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickTerracotta

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickBrick

Brick is the more muted of the two (57% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Terracotta's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Brick vs Terracotta in Design

Use Brick for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Terracotta for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion

Brick and Terracotta Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Brick#CB4154

Brick (#CB4154) is a medium, moderately saturated red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Terracotta#E2725B

Terracotta (#E2725B) is a light, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Brick and Terracotta 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
Brick text on white
4.75:1AA
Sample text preview
Brick text on black
4.42:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on white
3.09:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on black
6.79:1AA
Sample text preview
Brick text on Terracotta
1.54:1Fail
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on Brick
1.54:1Fail

Explore Brick and Terracotta individually

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

Terracotta color page#E2725B · shades, tints, pairings

More Brick and Terracotta Comparisons

RedvsBrickTanvsTerracottaRubyvsBrickRedvsTerracottaBrickvsWineTerracottavsRustTomatovsBrickRustvsTerracottaBrickvsCherrySagevsTerracottaBrickvsMaroonTerracottavsSage

Brick vs Terracotta FAQ

What is the difference between brick and terracotta?+
The main difference between Brick and Terracotta is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but Terracotta is lighter and Terracotta is more saturated. Brick and Terracotta are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Brick (#CB4154) and Terracotta (#E2725B) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is brick darker than terracotta?+
Yes. Brick is darker, with a lightness of 53% in HSL compared to Terracotta at 62% — a 9-point gap.
Are brick and terracotta the same color?+
No. Brick is #CB4154 and Terracotta is #E2725B. They differ by 18° in hue, 9% in lightness, and 13% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, brick or terracotta?+
Terracotta is more saturated. In HSL, Brick has 57% saturation and Terracotta has 70% — Terracotta is the more vivid of the two, while Brick reads as more muted.
Is brick warm or cool?+
Brick (#CB4154) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 352° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is terracotta warm or cool?+
Terracotta (#E2725B) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 10° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use brick and terracotta together?+
Yes. Both brick and terracotta are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use brick as the dominant color and terracotta as the accent or highlight.
What color family does brick belong to?+
Brick belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 352°, 57%, 53% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for brick?+
The hex code for Brick is #CB4154. In RGB, that's rgb(203, 65, 84), and in HSL it's hsl(352, 57%, 53%).
What is the hex code for terracotta?+
The hex code for Terracotta is #E2725B. In RGB, that's rgb(226, 114, 91), and in HSL it's hsl(10, 70%, 62%).