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Linen vs Apricot: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Linen and Apricot is hue — Linen is a warm off-white, while Apricot is a warm orange. Linen (#FAF0E6) has an HSL of 30°, 67%, 94%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.

Linen#FAF0E6
Apricot#FBCEB1
#FAF0E6Blended: #FBDFCC#FBCEB1
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Linen vs Apricot: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Linen Apricot
BrightnessVery light (L=94%) — pale, delicate, gentleVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentle
SaturationModerately saturated (S=67%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOff-whiteOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FAF0E6#FBCEB1
RGB250, 240, 230251, 206, 177

Can you use Linen and Apricot together?

Apricot text on Linen
Linen text on Apricot
Contrast Ratio:1.28:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Linen and Apricot Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Linen is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Apricot looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Linen or Apricot: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickApricot

Apricot is more saturated (90% HSL vs 67%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Linen can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickApricot

Apricot hits a 1.44:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Linen only reaches 1.12:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickLinen

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickLinen

Linen is the more muted of the two (67% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Apricot's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Linen vs Apricot in Design

Use Linen for:
●Backgrounds and page surfaces
●Minimalist editorial design
●Luxury clean aesthetics
●Soft wedding invitations
●Wellness and spa brands
Use Apricot for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges

Linen and Apricot Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Linen#FAF0E6

Linen (#FAF0E6) is a very light, moderately saturated off-white with a warm undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Apricot#FBCEB1

Apricot (#FBCEB1) is a very light, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Linen and Apricot 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
Linen text on white
1.12:1Fail
Sample text preview
Linen text on black
18.67:1AAA
Sample text preview
Apricot text on white
1.44:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on black
14.57:1AAA
Sample text preview
Linen text on Apricot
1.28:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on Linen
1.28:1Fail

Explore Linen and Apricot individually

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

Linen color page#FAF0E6 · shades, tints, pairingsApricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Linen and Apricot Comparisons

SnowvsLinenTanvsApricotLinenvsEcruApricotvsRoseBeigevsLinenApricotvsPinkLinenvsCreamRustvsApricotLinenvsIvoryPeruvsApricotCreamvsLinenSandvsApricot

Linen vs Apricot FAQ

What is the difference between linen and apricot?+
The main difference between Linen and Apricot is hue — Linen is a warm off-white, while Apricot is a warm orange. Linen (#FAF0E6) has an HSL of 30°, 67%, 94%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.
Is linen darker than apricot?+
No. Apricot is the darker of the two at 84% lightness, while Linen sits higher at 94%.
Are linen and apricot the same color?+
No. Linen is #FAF0E6 and Apricot is #FBCEB1. They differ by 6° in hue, 10% in lightness, and 23% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, linen or apricot?+
Apricot is more saturated. In HSL, Linen has 67% saturation and Apricot has 90% — Apricot is the more vivid of the two, while Linen reads as more muted.
Is linen warm or cool?+
Linen (#FAF0E6) is a warm off-white. Its hue sits at 30° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is apricot warm or cool?+
Apricot (#FBCEB1) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 24° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use linen and apricot together?+
Yes. Linen (off-white) and Apricot (orange) 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 linen belong to?+
Linen belongs to the off-white family. Its HSL is 30°, 67%, 94% — a warm tone within the broader off-white group.
What is the hex code for linen?+
The hex code for Linen is #FAF0E6. In RGB, that's rgb(250, 240, 230), and in HSL it's hsl(30, 67%, 94%).
What is the hex code for apricot?+
The hex code for Apricot is #FBCEB1. In RGB, that's rgb(251, 206, 177), and in HSL it's hsl(24, 90%, 84%).