Tangerine vs Burnt Orange: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tangerine and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Tangerine is lighter. Tangerine and Burnt Orange are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Tangerine (#F28500) and Burnt Orange (#CC5500) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Tangerine#F28500

Burnt Orange#CC5500

#F28500Blended: #DF6D00#CC5500

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Tangerine vs Burnt Orange: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tangerine Burnt Orange

BrightnessMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=40%) — balanced, versatile

SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching

Hue familyOrangeOrange

TemperatureWarmWarm

Hex code#F28500#CC5500

RGB242, 133, 0204, 85, 0

Can you use Tangerine and Burnt Orange together?

Burnt Orange text on Tangerine

Tangerine text on Burnt Orange

Contrast Ratio:1.67:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tangerine and Burnt Orange Apart

●These two are very close numerically. Place them side-by-side on a neutral background to spot the subtle undertone difference.
●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Tangerine or Burnt Orange: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos

PickTangerine

Tangerine is more saturated (100% HSL vs 100%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Burnt Orange can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds

PickBurnt Orange

Burnt Orange hits a 4.31:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Tangerine only reaches 2.58:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel

PickTangerine

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

▣Interior design & walls

PickTangerine

Tangerine is the more muted of the two (100% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Burnt Orange's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Tangerine vs Burnt Orange in Design

Use Tangerine for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Use Burnt Orange for:

●Call-to-action buttons

●Autumn and harvest themes

●Food, citrus, warmth branding

●Youthful energetic campaigns

●Friendly notification badges

Tangerine and Burnt Orange Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Tangerine#F28500

Tangerine (#F28500) is a medium, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Burnt Orange#CC5500

Burnt Orange (#CC5500) is a medium, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

PANTONE

Shades

Tints

Tangerine and Burnt Orange 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

Tangerine text on white

2.58:1Fail

Sample text preview

Tangerine text on black

8.13:1AAA

Sample text preview

Burnt Orange text on white

4.31:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Burnt Orange text on black

4.87:1AA

Sample text preview

Tangerine text on Burnt Orange

1.67:1Fail

Sample text preview

Burnt Orange text on Tangerine

1.67:1Fail

Explore Tangerine and Burnt Orange individually

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

Burnt Orange color page#CC5500 · shades, tints, pairings

More Tangerine and Burnt Orange Comparisons

Tangerine vs Burnt Orange FAQ

What is the difference between tangerine and burnt orange?+

The main difference between Tangerine and Burnt Orange is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Tangerine is lighter. Tangerine and Burnt Orange are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Tangerine (#F28500) and Burnt Orange (#CC5500) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Is tangerine darker than burnt orange?+

No. Burnt Orange is the darker of the two at 40% lightness, while Tangerine sits higher at 47%.

Are tangerine and burnt orange the same color?+

No. Tangerine is #F28500 and Burnt Orange is #CC5500. They differ by 8° in hue, 7% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, tangerine or burnt orange?+

They have nearly identical saturation — Tangerine at 100% and Burnt Orange at 100% in HSL.

Is tangerine warm or cool?+

Tangerine (#F28500) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 33° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Is burnt orange warm or cool?+

Burnt Orange (#CC5500) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 25° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.

Can you use tangerine and burnt orange together?+

Yes. Both tangerine and burnt orange are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use burnt orange as the dominant color and tangerine as the accent or highlight.

What color family does tangerine belong to?+

Tangerine belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 33°, 100%, 47% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.

What is the hex code for tangerine?+

The hex code for Tangerine is #F28500. In RGB, that's rgb(242, 133, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(33, 100%, 47%).

What is the hex code for burnt orange?+

The hex code for Burnt Orange is #CC5500. In RGB, that's rgb(204, 85, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(25, 100%, 40%).