Orange vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Orange and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but they share similar brightness and Orange is more saturated. Orange (#FFA500) has an HSL of 39°, 100%, 50%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Orange#FFA500

Ochre#CC7722

#FFA500Blended: #E68E11#CC7722

Orange vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect 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#FFA500#CC7722

RGB255, 165, 0204, 119, 34

Can you use Orange and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Orange

Orange text on Ochre

Contrast Ratio:1.71:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Orange and Ochre Apart

●Check saturation: 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 Orange vs Ochre in Design

Use 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

Orange and Ochre Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Orange#FFA500

Orange (#FFA500) 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

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

Orange text on white

1.97:1Fail

Sample text preview

Orange text on black

10.63:1AAA

Sample text preview

Ochre text on white

3.37:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Ochre text on black

6.23:1AA

Sample text preview

Orange text on Ochre

1.71:1Fail

Sample text preview

Ochre text on Orange

1.71:1Fail

Explore Orange and Ochre individually

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

Orange color page#FFA500 · shades, tints, pairings Ochre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Orange and Ochre Comparisons

Orange vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between orange and ochre?+

The main difference between Orange and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but they share similar brightness and Orange is more saturated. Orange (#FFA500) has an HSL of 39°, 100%, 50%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Is orange darker than ochre?+

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

Are orange and ochre the same color?+

No. Orange is #FFA500 and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 9° in hue, 3% in lightness, and 29% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, orange or ochre?+

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

Is orange warm or cool?+

Orange (#FFA500) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 39° 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 orange and ochre together?+

Yes. Both orange and ochre are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use ochre 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 39°, 100%, 50% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.

What is the hex code for orange?+

The hex code for Orange is #FFA500. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 165, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(39, 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%).