Dark Orange vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Dark Orange and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but they share similar brightness and Dark Orange is more saturated. Dark Orange (#FF8C00) has an HSL of 33°, 100%, 50%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Dark Orange#FF8C00

Ochre#CC7722

#FF8C00Blended: #E68211#CC7722

Dark Orange vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Dark Orange Ochre

BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOrangeOrange

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#FF8C00#CC7722

RGB255, 140, 0204, 119, 34

Can you use Dark Orange and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Dark Orange

Dark Orange text on Ochre

Contrast Ratio:1.45:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Dark Orange and Ochre Apart

●Check saturation: Dark Orange 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 Dark Orange vs Ochre 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 Ochre for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Dark Orange and Ochre 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

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

Dark Orange 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

Dark Orange text on white

2.33:1Fail

Sample text preview

Dark Orange text on black

9:1AAA

Sample text preview

Ochre text on white

3.37:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Ochre text on black

6.23:1AA

Sample text preview

Dark Orange text on Ochre

1.45:1Fail

Sample text preview

Ochre text on Dark Orange

1.45:1Fail

Explore Dark Orange and Ochre individually

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

Ochre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Dark Orange and Ochre Comparisons

Dark Orange vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between dark orange and ochre?+

The main difference between Dark Orange and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but they share similar brightness and Dark Orange is more saturated. Dark Orange (#FF8C00) has an HSL of 33°, 100%, 50%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Is dark orange darker than ochre?+

No. Ochre is the darker of the two at 47% lightness, while Dark Orange sits higher at 50%.

Are dark orange and ochre the same color?+

No. Dark Orange is #FF8C00 and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 3° in hue, 3% in lightness, and 29% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, dark orange or ochre?+

Dark Orange is more saturated. In HSL, Dark Orange has 100% saturation and Ochre has 71% — Dark Orange is the more vivid of the two, while Ochre reads as more muted.

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 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 dark orange and ochre together?+

Yes. Both dark orange and ochre are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use ochre 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 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%).