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Orange Red vs Burnt Orange: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Orange Red and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Orange Red is lighter. Orange Red (#FF4500) has an HSL of 16°, 100%, 50%, whereas Burnt Orange (#CC5500) sits at 25°, 100%, 40%.

Orange Red#FF4500
Burnt Orange#CC5500
#FF4500Blended: #E64D00#CC5500

Orange Red vs Burnt Orange: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Orange Red 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#FF4500#CC5500
RGB255, 69, 0204, 85, 0

Can you use Orange Red and Burnt Orange together?

Burnt Orange text on Orange Red
Orange Red text on Burnt Orange
Contrast Ratio:1.25:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Orange Red and Burnt Orange Apart

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

When to Use Orange Red vs Burnt Orange in Design

Use Orange Red 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 Red and Burnt Orange Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Orange Red#FF4500

Orange Red (#FF4500) is a medium, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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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 Red 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 Red text on white
3.44:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Orange Red text on black
6.1:1AA
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 Red text on Burnt Orange
1.25:1Fail
Sample text preview
Burnt Orange text on Orange Red
1.25:1Fail

Explore Orange Red and Burnt Orange individually

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

Burnt Orange color page#CC5500 · shades, tints, pairings

More Orange Red and Burnt Orange Comparisons

Orange Red vs Burnt Orange FAQ

What is the difference between orange red and burnt orange?+
The main difference between Orange Red and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Orange Red is lighter. Orange Red (#FF4500) has an HSL of 16°, 100%, 50%, whereas Burnt Orange (#CC5500) sits at 25°, 100%, 40%.
Is orange red darker than burnt orange?+
No. Burnt Orange is the darker of the two at 40% lightness, while Orange Red sits higher at 50%.
Are orange red and burnt orange the same color?+
No. Orange Red is #FF4500 and Burnt Orange is #CC5500. They differ by 9° in hue, 10% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, orange red or burnt orange?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Orange Red at 100% and Burnt Orange at 100% in HSL.
Is orange red warm or cool?+
Orange Red (#FF4500) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 16° 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 red and burnt orange together?+
Yes. Both orange red and burnt orange are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use burnt orange as the dominant color and orange red as the accent or highlight.
What color family does orange red belong to?+
Orange Red belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 16°, 100%, 50% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for orange red?+
The hex code for Orange Red is #FF4500. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 69, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(16, 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%).