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Burnt Orange vs Mustard Yellow: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow is hue — Burnt Orange is a warm orange, while Mustard Yellow is a warm yellow. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) sits at 46°, 99%, 44%.

Burnt Orange#CC5500
Mustard Yellow#E1AD01
#CC5500Blended: #D78101#E1AD01

Burnt Orange vs Mustard Yellow: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Burnt Orange Mustard Yellow
BrightnessMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=44%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=99%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeYellow
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#CC5500#E1AD01
RGB204, 85, 0225, 173, 1

Can you use Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow together?

Mustard Yellow text on Burnt Orange
Burnt Orange text on Mustard Yellow
Contrast Ratio:2.09:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow Apart

  • 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.

When to Use Burnt Orange vs Mustard Yellow 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 Mustard Yellow for:
Warning states & highlights
Children's and summer themes
Happy, optimistic branding
Taxi, logistics, signage
Accent color in palettes

Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow 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
Mustard Yellow#E1AD01

Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) is a medium, vivid yellow with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow 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
Mustard Yellow text on white
2.06:1Fail
Sample text preview
Mustard Yellow text on black
10.18:1AAA
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on Mustard Yellow
2.09:1Fail
Sample text preview
Mustard Yellow text on Burnt Orange
2.09:1Fail

Explore Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow individually

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

Burnt Orange color page#CC5500 · shades, tints, pairingsMustard Yellow color page#E1AD01 · shades, tints, pairings

More Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow Comparisons

Burnt Orange vs Mustard Yellow FAQ

What is the difference between burnt orange and mustard yellow?+
The main difference between Burnt Orange and Mustard Yellow is hue — Burnt Orange is a warm orange, while Mustard Yellow is a warm yellow. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) sits at 46°, 99%, 44%.
Is burnt orange darker than mustard yellow?+
Yes. Burnt Orange is darker, with a lightness of 40% in HSL compared to Mustard Yellow at 44% — a 4-point gap.
Are burnt orange and mustard yellow the same color?+
No. Burnt Orange is #CC5500 and Mustard Yellow is #E1AD01. They differ by 21° in hue, 4% in lightness, and 1% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, burnt orange or mustard yellow?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Burnt Orange at 100% and Mustard Yellow at 99% in HSL.
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 mustard yellow warm or cool?+
Mustard Yellow (#E1AD01) is a warm yellow. Its hue sits at 46° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use burnt orange and mustard yellow together?+
Yes. Burnt Orange (orange) and Mustard Yellow (yellow) 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 mustard yellow?+
The hex code for Mustard Yellow is #E1AD01. In RGB, that's rgb(225, 173, 1), and in HSL it's hsl(46, 99%, 44%).