Rust vs Greige: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Rust and Greige is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Greige is lighter and Rust is more saturated. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Greige (#B2A591) sits at 36°, 18%, 63%.

Rust#B7410E

Greige#B2A591

#B7410EBlended: #B57350#B2A591

Rust vs Greige: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Rust Greige

BrightnessDark (L=39%) — rich, serious, substantialLight (L=63%) — airy, soft, approachable

SaturationVivid (S=86%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=18%) — subdued, sophisticated

Hue familyOrangeOrange

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#B7410E#B2A591

RGB183, 65, 14178, 165, 145

Can you use Rust and Greige together?

Greige text on Rust

Rust text on Greige

Contrast Ratio:2.30:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Rust and Greige Apart

●Look at lightness first: Greige is noticeably lighter.
●Check saturation: Rust looks more vivid and saturated.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 18° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Rust vs Greige in Design

Use Rust for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Use Greige for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Rust and Greige 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

Greige#B2A591

Greige (#B2A591) is a light, muted orange with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Rust and Greige 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

Greige text on white

2.42:1Fail

Sample text preview

Greige text on black

8.68:1AAA

Sample text preview

Rust text on Greige

2.3:1Fail

Sample text preview

Greige text on Rust

2.3:1Fail

Explore Rust and Greige individually

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

Rust color page#B7410E · shades, tints, pairings Greige color page#B2A591 · shades, tints, pairings

More Rust and Greige Comparisons

Rust vs Greige FAQ

What is the difference between rust and greige?+

The main difference between Rust and Greige is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Greige is lighter and Rust is more saturated. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Greige (#B2A591) sits at 36°, 18%, 63%.

Is rust darker than greige?+

Yes. Rust is darker, with a lightness of 39% in HSL compared to Greige at 63% — a 24-point gap.

Are rust and greige the same color?+

No. Rust is #B7410E and Greige is #B2A591. They differ by 18° in hue, 24% in lightness, and 68% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, rust or greige?+

Rust is more saturated. In HSL, Rust has 86% saturation and Greige has 18% — Rust is the more vivid of the two, while Greige 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 greige warm or cool?+

Greige (#B2A591) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 36° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use rust and greige together?+

Yes. Both rust and greige are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use rust as the dominant color and greige 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 greige?+

The hex code for Greige is #B2A591. In RGB, that's rgb(178, 165, 145), and in HSL it's hsl(36, 18%, 63%).