The main difference between Ivory and Off White is brightness and saturation: both are off-white shades, but they share similar brightness and Ivory is more saturated. Ivory (#FFFFF0) and Off White (#FAF9F6) are similar colors often confused. They differ in brightness, saturation, and undertone, making each better suited for different design contexts.
Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.
Ivory is more saturated (100% HSL vs 29%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Off White can feel washed out when printed small.
Off White hits a 1.05:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Ivory only reaches 1.01:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Off White is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Ivory leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Off White is the more muted of the two (29% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Ivory's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Ivory (#FFFFF0) is a very light, vivid off-white with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Off White (#FAF9F6) is a very light, muted off-white with a warm undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and subdued, sophisticated.
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.
Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.