Copper vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Copper and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but they share similar brightness and Ochre is more saturated. Copper (#B87333) has an HSL of 29°, 57%, 46%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Copper#B87333

Ochre#CC7722

#B87333Blended: #C2752B#CC7722

Copper vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Copper Ochre

BrightnessMedium (L=46%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationModerately saturated (S=57%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOrangeOrange

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#B87333#CC7722

RGB184, 115, 51204, 119, 34

Can you use Copper and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Copper

Copper text on Ochre

Contrast Ratio:1.12:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Copper and Ochre Apart

●Check saturation: Ochre 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 Copper vs Ochre in Design

Use Copper for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Use Ochre for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Copper and Ochre Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Copper#B87333

Copper (#B87333) is a medium, moderately saturated orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Ochre#CC7722

Ochre (#CC7722) 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

Copper and Ochre 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

Copper text on white

3.79:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Copper text on black

5.54:1AA

Sample text preview

Ochre text on white

3.37:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Ochre text on black

6.23:1AA

Sample text preview

Copper text on Ochre

1.12:1Fail

Sample text preview

Ochre text on Copper

1.12:1Fail

Explore Copper and Ochre individually

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

Copper color page#B87333 · shades, tints, pairings Ochre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Copper and Ochre Comparisons

Copper vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between copper and ochre?+

The main difference between Copper and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but they share similar brightness and Ochre is more saturated. Copper (#B87333) has an HSL of 29°, 57%, 46%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Is copper darker than ochre?+

No, they're nearly the same brightness. Copper sits at 46% lightness and Ochre at 47% — the difference is only 1 percentage points.

Are copper and ochre the same color?+

No. Copper is #B87333 and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 1° in hue, 1% in lightness, and 14% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, copper or ochre?+

Ochre is more saturated. In HSL, Copper has 57% saturation and Ochre has 71% — Ochre is the more vivid of the two, while Copper reads as more muted.

Is copper warm or cool?+

Copper (#B87333) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 29° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Is ochre warm or cool?+

Ochre (#CC7722) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 30° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use copper and ochre together?+

Yes. Both copper and ochre are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use copper as the dominant color and ochre as the accent or highlight.

What color family does copper belong to?+

Copper belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 29°, 57%, 46% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.

What is the hex code for copper?+

The hex code for Copper is #B87333. In RGB, that's rgb(184, 115, 51), and in HSL it's hsl(29, 57%, 46%).

What is the hex code for ochre?+

The hex code for Ochre is #CC7722. In RGB, that's rgb(204, 119, 34), and in HSL it's hsl(30, 71%, 47%).