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Tan vs Copper: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tan and Copper is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Tan is lighter and Copper is more saturated. Tan (#D2B48C) has an HSL of 34°, 44%, 69%, whereas Copper (#B87333) sits at 29°, 57%, 46%.

Tan#D2B48C
Copper#B87333
#D2B48CBlended: #C59460#B87333

Tan vs Copper: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tan Copper
BrightnessLight (L=69%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=46%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationModerately saturated (S=44%) — balanced in intensityModerately saturated (S=57%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#D2B48C#B87333
RGB210, 180, 140184, 115, 51

Can you use Tan and Copper together?

Copper text on Tan
Tan text on Copper
Contrast Ratio:1.92:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tan and Copper Apart

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

When to Use Tan vs Copper in Design

Use Tan for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges
Use Copper for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges

Tan and Copper 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.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Copper#B87333

Copper (#B87333) 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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Tan and Copper 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
Copper text on white
3.79:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Copper text on black
5.54:1AA
Sample text preview
Tan text on Copper
1.92:1Fail
Sample text preview
Copper text on Tan
1.92:1Fail

Explore Tan and Copper individually

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

Tan color page#D2B48C · shades, tints, pairingsCopper color page#B87333 · shades, tints, pairings

More Tan and Copper Comparisons

TanvsSandTanvsKhakiCoppervsRustWheatvsTanRustvsCopperTanvsBeigeCoppervsGoldTanvsCamelCoppervsNavyKhakivsTanCoppervsTealCamelvsTan

Tan vs Copper FAQ

What is the difference between tan and copper?+
The main difference between Tan and Copper is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Tan is lighter and Copper is more saturated. Tan (#D2B48C) has an HSL of 34°, 44%, 69%, whereas Copper (#B87333) sits at 29°, 57%, 46%.
Is tan darker than copper?+
No. Copper is the darker of the two at 46% lightness, while Tan sits higher at 69%.
Are tan and copper the same color?+
No. Tan is #D2B48C and Copper is #B87333. They differ by 5° in hue, 23% in lightness, and 13% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, tan or copper?+
Copper is more saturated. In HSL, Tan has 44% saturation and Copper has 57% — Copper 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 copper warm or cool?+
Copper (#B87333) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 29° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use tan and copper together?+
Yes. Both tan and copper are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use copper as the dominant color and tan 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 copper?+
The hex code for Copper is #B87333. In RGB, that's rgb(184, 115, 51), and in HSL it's hsl(29, 57%, 46%).