Home /Compare /Burnt Orange vs Apricot

Burnt Orange vs Apricot: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Burnt Orange and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Burnt Orange is more saturated. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.

Burnt Orange#CC5500
Apricot#FBCEB1
#CC5500Blended: #E49259#FBCEB1

Burnt Orange vs Apricot: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Burnt Orange Apricot
BrightnessMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatileVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentle
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#CC5500#FBCEB1
RGB204, 85, 0251, 206, 177

Can you use Burnt Orange and Apricot together?

Apricot text on Burnt Orange
Burnt Orange text on Apricot
Contrast Ratio:2.99:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Burnt Orange and Apricot Apart

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

When to Use Burnt Orange vs Apricot in Design

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

Burnt Orange and Apricot Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Burnt Orange#CC5500

Burnt Orange (#CC5500) 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
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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

Burnt Orange and Apricot 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
Burnt Orange text on white
4.31:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on black
4.87:1AA
Sample text preview
Apricot text on white
1.44:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on black
14.57:1AAA
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on Apricot
2.99:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on Burnt Orange
2.99:1Fail

Explore Burnt Orange and Apricot individually

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

Burnt Orange color page#CC5500 · shades, tints, pairingsApricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Burnt Orange and Apricot Comparisons

Burnt Orange vs Apricot FAQ

What is the difference between burnt orange and apricot?+
The main difference between Burnt Orange and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Burnt Orange is more saturated. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.
Is burnt orange darker than apricot?+
Yes. Burnt Orange is darker, with a lightness of 40% in HSL compared to Apricot at 84% — a 44-point gap.
Are burnt orange and apricot the same color?+
No. Burnt Orange is #CC5500 and Apricot is #FBCEB1. They differ by 1° in hue, 44% in lightness, and 10% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, burnt orange or apricot?+
Burnt Orange is more saturated. In HSL, Burnt Orange has 100% saturation and Apricot has 90% — Burnt Orange is the more vivid of the two, while Apricot reads as more muted.
Is burnt orange warm or cool?+
Burnt Orange (#CC5500) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 25° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
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.
Can you use burnt orange and apricot together?+
Yes. Both burnt orange and apricot are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use burnt orange as the dominant color and apricot as the accent or highlight.
What color family does burnt orange belong to?+
Burnt Orange belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 25°, 100%, 40% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for burnt orange?+
The hex code for Burnt Orange is #CC5500. In RGB, that's rgb(204, 85, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(25, 100%, 40%).
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%).