Rust vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Rust and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Ochre is lighter and Rust is more saturated. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Rust#B7410E

Ochre#CC7722

#B7410EBlended: #C25C18#CC7722

Rust vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Rust Ochre

BrightnessDark (L=39%) — rich, serious, substantialMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationVivid (S=86%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOrangeOrange

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#B7410E#CC7722

RGB183, 65, 14204, 119, 34

Can you use Rust and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Rust

Rust text on Ochre

Contrast Ratio:1.65:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Rust and Ochre Apart

●Look at lightness first: Ochre is noticeably lighter.
●Check saturation: Rust looks more vivid and saturated.
●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 12° 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 Ochre in Design

Use Rust 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

Rust and Ochre 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

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

Rust 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

Rust text on white

5.56:1AA

Sample text preview

Rust text on black

3.78:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Ochre text on white

3.37:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Ochre text on black

6.23:1AA

Sample text preview

Rust text on Ochre

1.65:1Fail

Sample text preview

Ochre text on Rust

1.65:1Fail

Explore Rust and Ochre individually

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

Rust color page#B7410E · shades, tints, pairings Ochre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Rust and Ochre Comparisons

Rust vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between rust and ochre?+

The main difference between Rust and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Ochre is lighter and Rust is more saturated. Rust (#B7410E) has an HSL of 18°, 86%, 39%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Is rust darker than ochre?+

Yes. Rust is darker, with a lightness of 39% in HSL compared to Ochre at 47% — a 8-point gap.

Are rust and ochre the same color?+

No. Rust is #B7410E and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 12° in hue, 8% in lightness, and 15% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, rust or ochre?+

Rust is more saturated. In HSL, Rust has 86% saturation and Ochre has 71% — Rust is the more vivid of the two, while Ochre 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 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 rust and ochre together?+

Yes. Both rust and ochre are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use rust as the dominant color and ochre 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 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%).