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Tan vs Apricot: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tan and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Apricot is more saturated. Tan (#D2B48C) has an HSL of 34°, 44%, 69%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.

Tan#D2B48C
Apricot#FBCEB1
#D2B48CBlended: #E7C19F#FBCEB1

Tan vs Apricot: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tan Apricot
BrightnessLight (L=69%) — airy, soft, approachableVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentle
SaturationModerately saturated (S=44%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#D2B48C#FBCEB1
RGB210, 180, 140251, 206, 177

Can you use Tan and Apricot together?

Apricot text on Tan
Tan text on Apricot
Contrast Ratio:1.37:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tan and Apricot Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Apricot is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Apricot looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 10° 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 Tan vs Apricot in Design

Use Tan 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

Tan and Apricot Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Tan#D2B48C

Tan (#D2B48C) is a light, moderately saturated orange with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and balanced in intensity.

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PANTONE
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Apricot#FBCEB1

Apricot (#FBCEB1) is a very light, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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Tan 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
Tan text on white
1.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Tan text on black
10.65:1AAA
Sample text preview
Apricot text on white
1.44:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on black
14.57:1AAA
Sample text preview
Tan text on Apricot
1.37:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on Tan
1.37:1Fail

Explore Tan and Apricot individually

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

Tan color page#D2B48C · shades, tints, pairingsApricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Tan and Apricot Comparisons

TanvsSandTanvsKhakiApricotvsRoseWheatvsTanApricotvsPinkTanvsBeigeRustvsApricotTanvsCamelPeruvsApricotKhakivsTanSandvsApricotCamelvsTan

Tan vs Apricot FAQ

What is the difference between tan and apricot?+
The main difference between Tan and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Apricot is more saturated. Tan (#D2B48C) has an HSL of 34°, 44%, 69%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.
Is tan darker than apricot?+
Yes. Tan is darker, with a lightness of 69% in HSL compared to Apricot at 84% — a 15-point gap.
Are tan and apricot the same color?+
No. Tan is #D2B48C and Apricot is #FBCEB1. They differ by 10° in hue, 15% in lightness, and 46% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, tan or apricot?+
Apricot is more saturated. In HSL, Tan has 44% saturation and Apricot has 90% — Apricot is the more vivid of the two, while Tan reads as more muted.
Is tan warm or cool?+
Tan (#D2B48C) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 34° 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 tan and apricot together?+
Yes. Both tan and apricot are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use tan as the dominant color and apricot as the accent or highlight.
What color family does tan belong to?+
Tan belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 34°, 44%, 69% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for tan?+
The hex code for Tan is #D2B48C. In RGB, that's rgb(210, 180, 140), and in HSL it's hsl(34, 44%, 69%).
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%).