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Dark Orange vs Burnt Orange: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Orange and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Dark Orange is lighter. Dark Orange (#FF8C00) has an HSL of 33°, 100%, 50%, whereas Burnt Orange (#CC5500) sits at 25°, 100%, 40%.

Dark Orange#FF8C00
Burnt Orange#CC5500
#FF8C00Blended: #E67100#CC5500
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Dark Orange vs Burnt Orange: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Orange Burnt Orange
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FF8C00#CC5500
RGB255, 140, 0204, 85, 0

Can you use Dark Orange and Burnt Orange together?

Burnt Orange text on Dark Orange
Dark Orange text on Burnt Orange
Contrast Ratio:1.85:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Orange and Burnt Orange Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Dark Orange is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Dark Orange or Burnt Orange: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickDark Orange

Dark Orange is more saturated (100% HSL vs 100%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Burnt Orange can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickBurnt Orange

Burnt Orange hits a 4.31:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Dark Orange only reaches 2.33:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickDark Orange

Dark Orange is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Burnt Orange leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickDark Orange

Dark Orange is the more muted of the two (100% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Burnt Orange's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Dark Orange vs Burnt Orange in Design

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

Dark Orange and Burnt Orange Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Dark Orange#FF8C00

Dark Orange (#FF8C00) 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
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

Dark Orange and Burnt Orange 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
Dark Orange text on white
2.33:1Fail
Sample text preview
Dark Orange text on black
9:1AAA
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
Dark Orange text on Burnt Orange
1.85:1Fail
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on Dark Orange
1.85:1Fail

Explore Dark Orange and Burnt Orange individually

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

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

More Dark Orange and Burnt Orange Comparisons

Dark OrangevsRustTanvsBurnt OrangeDark OrangevsOchreRustvsBurnt OrangeDark OrangevsCopperBurnt OrangevsRustPeruvsBurnt OrangeBurnt OrangevsGreyAmbervsBurnt OrangeBurnt OrangevsOchreBurnt OrangevsPeachBurnt OrangevsHoney

Dark Orange vs Burnt Orange FAQ

What is the difference between dark orange and burnt orange?+
The main difference between Dark Orange and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Dark Orange is lighter. Dark Orange (#FF8C00) has an HSL of 33°, 100%, 50%, whereas Burnt Orange (#CC5500) sits at 25°, 100%, 40%.
Is dark orange darker than burnt orange?+
No. Burnt Orange is the darker of the two at 40% lightness, while Dark Orange sits higher at 50%.
Are dark orange and burnt orange the same color?+
No. Dark Orange is #FF8C00 and Burnt Orange is #CC5500. They differ by 8° in hue, 10% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, dark orange or burnt orange?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Dark Orange at 100% and Burnt Orange at 100% in HSL.
Is dark orange warm or cool?+
Dark Orange (#FF8C00) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 33° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
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.
Can you use dark orange and burnt orange together?+
Yes. Both dark orange and burnt orange are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use burnt orange as the dominant color and dark orange as the accent or highlight.
What color family does dark orange belong to?+
Dark Orange belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 33°, 100%, 50% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for dark orange?+
The hex code for Dark Orange is #FF8C00. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 140, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(33, 100%, 50%).
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%).