Rust vs Apricot: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Rust and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.

Rust#B7410E

Apricot#FBCEB1

#B7410EBlended: #D98860#FBCEB1

Rust vs Apricot: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Rust Apricot

BrightnessDark (L=39%) — rich, serious, substantialVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentle

SaturationVivid (S=86%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOrangeOrange

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#B7410E#FBCEB1

RGB183, 65, 14251, 206, 177

Can you use Rust and Apricot together?

Apricot text on Rust

Rust text on Apricot

Contrast Ratio:3.86:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Rust and Apricot Apart

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

When to Use Rust vs Apricot in Design

Use Rust for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Use Apricot for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Rust and Apricot Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Rust#B7410E

Rust (#B7410E) is a dark, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

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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

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Rust 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

Rust text on white

5.56:1AA

Sample text preview

Rust text on black

3.78:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Apricot text on white

1.44:1Fail

Sample text preview

Apricot text on black

14.57:1AAA

Sample text preview

Rust text on Apricot

3.86:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Apricot text on Rust

3.86:1AA Large

Explore Rust and Apricot individually

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

Rust color page#B7410E · shades, tints, pairings Apricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Rust and Apricot Comparisons

Rust vs Apricot FAQ

What is the difference between rust and apricot?+

The main difference between Rust and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.

Is rust darker than apricot?+

Yes. Rust is darker, with a lightness of 39% in HSL compared to Apricot at 84% — a 45-point gap.

Are rust and apricot the same color?+

No. Rust is #B7410E and Apricot is #FBCEB1. They differ by 6° in hue, 45% in lightness, and 4% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, rust or apricot?+

Apricot is more saturated. In HSL, Rust has 86% saturation and Apricot has 90% — Apricot is the more vivid of the two, while Rust reads as more muted.

Is rust warm or cool?+

Rust (#B7410E) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 18° 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 rust and apricot together?+

Yes. Both rust and apricot are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use rust as the dominant color and apricot as the accent or highlight.

What color family does rust belong to?+

Rust belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 18°, 86%, 39% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.

What is the hex code for rust?+

The hex code for Rust is #B7410E. In RGB, that's rgb(183, 65, 14), and in HSL it's hsl(18, 86%, 39%).

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%).