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Tan vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tan and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Tan is lighter and Ochre is more saturated. Tan (#D2B48C) has an HSL of 34°, 44%, 69%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Tan#D2B48C
Ochre#CC7722
#D2B48CBlended: #CF9657#CC7722

Tan vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tan Ochre
BrightnessLight (L=69%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationModerately saturated (S=44%) — balanced in intensityVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#D2B48C#CC7722
RGB210, 180, 140204, 119, 34

Can you use Tan and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Tan
Tan text on Ochre
Contrast Ratio:1.71:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tan and Ochre Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Tan is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Ochre 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 Ochre in Design

Use Tan 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

Tan and Ochre 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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Ochre#CC7722

Ochre (#CC7722) is a medium, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

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Tan 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
Tan text on white
1.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Tan text on black
10.65:1AAA
Sample text preview
Ochre text on white
3.37:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Ochre text on black
6.23:1AA
Sample text preview
Tan text on Ochre
1.71:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ochre text on Tan
1.71:1Fail

Explore Tan and Ochre individually

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

Tan color page#D2B48C · shades, tints, pairingsOchre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Tan and Ochre Comparisons

TanvsSandTanvsKhakiRustvsOchreWheatvsTanPeruvsOchreTanvsBeigeSandvsOchreTanvsCamelPeachvsOchreKhakivsTanHoneyvsOchreCamelvsTan

Tan vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between tan and ochre?+
The main difference between Tan and Ochre is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Tan is lighter and Ochre is more saturated. Tan (#D2B48C) has an HSL of 34°, 44%, 69%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.
Is tan darker than ochre?+
No. Ochre is the darker of the two at 47% lightness, while Tan sits higher at 69%.
Are tan and ochre the same color?+
No. Tan is #D2B48C and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 4° in hue, 22% in lightness, and 27% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, tan or ochre?+
Ochre is more saturated. In HSL, Tan has 44% saturation and Ochre has 71% — Ochre 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 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 tan and ochre together?+
Yes. Both tan and ochre are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use ochre 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 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%).