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Burnt Orange vs Scarlet: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Burnt Orange and Scarlet is hue — Burnt Orange is a warm orange, while Scarlet is a warm red. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.

Burnt Orange#CC5500
Scarlet#FF2400
#CC5500Blended: #E63D00#FF2400

Burnt Orange vs Scarlet: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Burnt Orange Scarlet
BrightnessMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#CC5500#FF2400
RGB204, 85, 0255, 36, 0

Can you use Burnt Orange and Scarlet together?

Scarlet text on Burnt Orange
Burnt Orange text on Scarlet
Contrast Ratio:1.13:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Burnt Orange and Scarlet Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Scarlet is noticeably lighter.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 17° 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 Scarlet 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 Scarlet for:
Alerts, errors, stop states
Sale & promotion banners
Food and beverage packaging
Sports and energy branding
Romantic & bold fashion

Burnt Orange and Scarlet 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
Scarlet#FF2400

Scarlet (#FF2400) is a medium, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Burnt Orange and Scarlet 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
Scarlet text on white
3.82:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on black
5.5:1AA
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on Scarlet
1.13:1Fail
Sample text preview
Scarlet text on Burnt Orange
1.13:1Fail

Explore Burnt Orange and Scarlet individually

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

Burnt Orange color page#CC5500 · shades, tints, pairingsScarlet color page#FF2400 · shades, tints, pairings

More Burnt Orange and Scarlet Comparisons

Burnt Orange vs Scarlet FAQ

What is the difference between burnt orange and scarlet?+
The main difference between Burnt Orange and Scarlet is hue — Burnt Orange is a warm orange, while Scarlet is a warm red. Burnt Orange (#CC5500) has an HSL of 25°, 100%, 40%, whereas Scarlet (#FF2400) sits at 8°, 100%, 50%.
Is burnt orange darker than scarlet?+
Yes. Burnt Orange is darker, with a lightness of 40% in HSL compared to Scarlet at 50% — a 10-point gap.
Are burnt orange and scarlet the same color?+
No. Burnt Orange is #CC5500 and Scarlet is #FF2400. They differ by 17° in hue, 10% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, burnt orange or scarlet?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Burnt Orange at 100% and Scarlet at 100% 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 scarlet warm or cool?+
Scarlet (#FF2400) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 8° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use burnt orange and scarlet together?+
Yes. Burnt Orange (orange) and Scarlet (red) 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 scarlet?+
The hex code for Scarlet is #FF2400. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 36, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(8, 100%, 50%).