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Orange vs Burnt Orange: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Orange and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Orange is lighter. Orange and Burnt Orange are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Orange (#FF8C00) and Burnt Orange (#CC5500) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

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

Aspect 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 Orange and Burnt Orange together?

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

How to Tell Orange and Burnt Orange Apart

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

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
PickOrange

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 Orange only reaches 2.33:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickOrange

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
PickOrange

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 Orange vs Burnt Orange in Design

Use 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

Orange and Burnt Orange Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Orange#FF8C00

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

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
Orange text on white
2.33:1Fail
Sample text preview
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
Orange text on Burnt Orange
1.85:1Fail
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on Orange
1.85:1Fail

Explore Orange and Burnt Orange individually

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

Orange color page#FF8C00 · shades, tints, pairingsBurnt Orange color page#CC5500 · shades, tints, pairings

More Orange and Burnt Orange Comparisons

OrangevsRedTanvsBurnt OrangeRedvsOrangeRustvsBurnt OrangeOrangevsGoldBurnt OrangevsRustOrangevsRustPeruvsBurnt OrangeOrangevsBlueBurnt OrangevsGreyOrangevsSandAmbervsBurnt Orange

Orange vs Burnt Orange FAQ

What is the difference between orange and burnt orange?+
The main difference between Orange and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Orange is lighter. Orange and Burnt Orange are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Orange (#FF8C00) and Burnt Orange (#CC5500) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is orange darker than burnt orange?+
No. Burnt Orange is the darker of the two at 40% lightness, while Orange sits higher at 50%.
Are orange and burnt orange the same color?+
No. 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, orange or burnt orange?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Orange at 100% and Burnt Orange at 100% in HSL.
Is orange warm or cool?+
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 orange and burnt orange together?+
Yes. Both orange and burnt orange are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use burnt orange as the dominant color and orange as the accent or highlight.
What color family does orange belong to?+
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 orange?+
The hex code for 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%).