Home /Compare /Burnt Orange vs Grey

Burnt Orange vs Grey: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Burnt Orange and Grey is hue — Burnt Orange is a warm orange, while Grey is a neutral gray. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.

Burnt Orange#CC5500
Grey#808080
#CC5500Blended: #A66B40#808080

Burnt Orange vs Grey: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Burnt Orange Grey
BrightnessMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingNear-neutral (S=0%) — desaturated and restrained
Hue familyOrangeGray
TemperatureWarmNeutral
Hex code#CC5500#808080
RGB204, 85, 0128, 128, 128

Can you use Burnt Orange and Grey together?

Grey text on Burnt Orange
Burnt Orange text on Grey
Contrast Ratio:1.09:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Burnt Orange and Grey Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Grey is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Burnt Orange looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 25° 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 Burnt Orange vs Grey 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 Grey for:
Backgrounds and UI chrome
Professional corporate design
Minimalist and modern brands
Text and secondary elements
Architectural neutrals

Burnt Orange and Grey 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
Tints
Grey#808080

Grey (#808080) is a medium, near-neutral gray with a neutral undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and desaturated and restrained.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Burnt Orange and Grey 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
Grey text on white
3.95:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Grey text on black
5.32:1AA
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on Grey
1.09:1Fail
Sample text preview
Grey text on Burnt Orange
1.09:1Fail

Explore Burnt Orange and Grey individually

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

Burnt Orange color page#CC5500 · shades, tints, pairingsGrey color page#808080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Burnt Orange and Grey Comparisons

Burnt Orange vs Grey FAQ

What is the difference between burnt orange and grey?+
The main difference between Burnt Orange and Grey is hue — Burnt Orange is a warm orange, while Grey is a neutral gray. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Grey (#808080) sits at 0°, 0%, 50%.
Is burnt orange darker than grey?+
Yes. Burnt Orange is darker, with a lightness of 40% in HSL compared to Grey at 50% — a 10-point gap.
Are burnt orange and grey the same color?+
No. Burnt Orange is #CC5500 and Grey is #808080. They differ by 25° in hue, 10% in lightness, and 100% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, burnt orange or grey?+
Burnt Orange is more saturated. In HSL, Burnt Orange has 100% saturation and Grey has 0% — Burnt Orange is the more vivid of the two, while Grey 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 grey warm or cool?+
Grey (#808080) is a neutral gray. Its hue sits at 0° on the color wheel, which places it in the neutral range.
Can you use burnt orange and grey together?+
Yes. Burnt Orange (orange) and Grey (gray) 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 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 grey?+
The hex code for Grey is #808080. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 128, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(0, 0%, 50%).