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Sienna vs Burnt Sienna: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Sienna and Burnt Sienna is hue — Sienna is a warm orange, while Burnt Sienna is a warm red. Sienna (#A0522D) and Burnt Sienna (#E97451) are similar colors often confused. They differ in brightness, saturation, and undertone, making each better suited for different design contexts.

Sienna#A0522D
Burnt Sienna#E97451
#A0522DBlended: #C5633F#E97451
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Sienna vs Burnt Sienna: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Sienna Burnt Sienna
BrightnessMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=62%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationModerately saturated (S=56%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=78%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#A0522D#E97451
RGB160, 82, 45233, 116, 81

Can you use Sienna and Burnt Sienna together?

Burnt Sienna text on Sienna
Sienna text on Burnt Sienna
Contrast Ratio:1.89:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Sienna and Burnt Sienna Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Burnt Sienna is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Burnt Sienna looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Sienna or Burnt Sienna: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickBurnt Sienna

Burnt Sienna is more saturated (78% HSL vs 56%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Sienna can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickSienna

Sienna hits a 5.62:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Burnt Sienna only reaches 2.97:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickBurnt Sienna

Burnt Sienna is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Sienna leans warmer and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickSienna

Sienna is the more muted of the two (56% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Burnt Sienna's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Sienna vs Burnt Sienna in Design

Use Sienna for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges
Use Burnt Sienna for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion

Sienna and Burnt Sienna Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Sienna#A0522D

Sienna (#A0522D) is a medium, moderately saturated orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
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HSL
HSV
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PANTONE
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Burnt Sienna#E97451

Burnt Sienna (#E97451) is a light, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Sienna and Burnt Sienna 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
Sienna text on white
5.62:1AA
Sample text preview
Sienna text on black
3.74:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Burnt Sienna text on white
2.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Burnt Sienna text on black
7.08:1AAA
Sample text preview
Sienna text on Burnt Sienna
1.89:1Fail
Sample text preview
Burnt Sienna text on Sienna
1.89:1Fail

Explore Sienna and Burnt Sienna individually

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

Sienna color page#A0522D · shades, tints, pairings

More Sienna and Burnt Sienna Comparisons

SiennavsRustUmbervsSiennaSiennavsUmberSiennavsOchreSiennavsPeachSiennavsCopperSiennavsBronzeSiennavsCaramelSiennavsApricotSiennavsScarletSiennavsTerracottaSiennavsBurnt Orange

Sienna vs Burnt Sienna FAQ

What is the difference between sienna and burnt sienna?+
The main difference between Sienna and Burnt Sienna is hue — Sienna is a warm orange, while Burnt Sienna is a warm red. Sienna (#A0522D) and Burnt Sienna (#E97451) are similar colors often confused. They differ in brightness, saturation, and undertone, making each better suited for different design contexts.
Is sienna darker than burnt sienna?+
Yes. Sienna is darker, with a lightness of 40% in HSL compared to Burnt Sienna at 62% — a 22-point gap.
Are sienna and burnt sienna the same color?+
No. Sienna is #A0522D and Burnt Sienna is #E97451. They differ by 5° in hue, 22% in lightness, and 22% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, sienna or burnt sienna?+
Burnt Sienna is more saturated. In HSL, Sienna has 56% saturation and Burnt Sienna has 78% — Burnt Sienna is the more vivid of the two, while Sienna reads as more muted.
Is sienna warm or cool?+
Sienna (#A0522D) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 19° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Is burnt sienna warm or cool?+
Burnt Sienna (#E97451) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 14° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use sienna and burnt sienna together?+
Yes. Sienna (orange) and Burnt Sienna (red) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does sienna belong to?+
Sienna belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 19°, 56%, 40% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for sienna?+
The hex code for Sienna is #A0522D. In RGB, that's rgb(160, 82, 45), and in HSL it's hsl(19, 56%, 40%).
What is the hex code for burnt sienna?+
The hex code for Burnt Sienna is #E97451. In RGB, that's rgb(233, 116, 81), and in HSL it's hsl(14, 78%, 62%).