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Sienna vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Sienna and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Ochre is lighter and Ochre is more saturated. Sienna (#A0522D) has an HSL of 19°, 56%, 40%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Sienna#A0522D
Ochre#CC7722
#A0522DBlended: #B66528#CC7722
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Sienna vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Sienna Ochre
BrightnessMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationModerately saturated (S=56%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#A0522D#CC7722
RGB160, 82, 45204, 119, 34

Can you use Sienna and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Sienna
Sienna text on Ochre
Contrast Ratio:1.67:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Sienna and Ochre Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Ochre looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 11° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Sienna or Ochre: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickOchre

Ochre is more saturated (71% 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 Ochre only reaches 3.37:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickOchre

Ochre 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 Ochre's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Sienna vs Ochre in Design

Use Sienna 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

Sienna and Ochre 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
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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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
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Sienna 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
Sienna text on white
5.62:1AA
Sample text preview
Sienna text on black
3.74:1AA 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
Sienna text on Ochre
1.67:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ochre text on Sienna
1.67:1Fail

Explore Sienna and Ochre individually

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

Sienna color page#A0522D · shades, tints, pairingsOchre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Sienna and Ochre Comparisons

SiennavsRustTanvsOchreUmbervsSiennaRustvsOchreSiennavsUmberPeruvsOchreSandvsOchreSiennavsPeachPeachvsOchreSiennavsCopperHoneyvsOchreSiennavsBronze

Sienna vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between sienna and ochre?+
The main difference between Sienna and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Ochre is lighter and Ochre is more saturated. Sienna (#A0522D) has an HSL of 19°, 56%, 40%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.
Is sienna darker than ochre?+
Yes. Sienna is darker, with a lightness of 40% in HSL compared to Ochre at 47% — a 7-point gap.
Are sienna and ochre the same color?+
No. Sienna is #A0522D and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 11° in hue, 7% in lightness, and 15% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, sienna or ochre?+
Ochre is more saturated. In HSL, Sienna has 56% saturation and Ochre has 71% — Ochre 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 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 sienna and ochre together?+
Yes. Both sienna and ochre are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use sienna as the dominant color and ochre as the accent or highlight.
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 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%).