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Taupe vs Apricot: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Taupe and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Apricot is more saturated. Taupe (#483C32) has an HSL of 27°, 18%, 24%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.

Taupe#483C32
Apricot#FBCEB1
#483C32Blended: #A28572#FBCEB1

Taupe vs Apricot: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Taupe Apricot
BrightnessDark (L=24%) — rich, serious, substantialVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentle
SaturationMuted (S=18%) — subdued, sophisticatedVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyOrangeOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#483C32#FBCEB1
RGB72, 60, 50251, 206, 177

Can you use Taupe and Apricot together?

Apricot text on Taupe
Taupe text on Apricot
Contrast Ratio:7.40:1WCAG AA Pass ✓

How to Tell Taupe and Apricot Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Apricot is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Apricot 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 Taupe vs Apricot in Design

Use Taupe 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

Taupe and Apricot Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Taupe#483C32

Taupe (#483C32) is a dark, muted orange with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
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HSV
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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.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
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PANTONE
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Taupe 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
Taupe text on white
10.67:1AAA
Sample text preview
Taupe text on black
1.97:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on white
1.44:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on black
14.57:1AAA
Sample text preview
Taupe text on Apricot
7.4:1AAA
Sample text preview
Apricot text on Taupe
7.4:1AAA

Explore Taupe and Apricot individually

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

Taupe color page#483C32 · shades, tints, pairingsApricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Taupe and Apricot Comparisons

TanvsTaupeTanvsApricotTaupevsGrayApricotvsRoseSandvsTaupeApricotvsPinkTaupevsGreyRustvsApricotRustvsTaupePeruvsApricotTaupevsBrownSandvsApricot

Taupe vs Apricot FAQ

What is the difference between taupe and apricot?+
The main difference between Taupe and Apricot is brightness and saturation: both are orange shades, but Apricot is lighter and Apricot is more saturated. Taupe (#483C32) has an HSL of 27°, 18%, 24%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.
Is taupe darker than apricot?+
Yes. Taupe is darker, with a lightness of 24% in HSL compared to Apricot at 84% — a 60-point gap.
Are taupe and apricot the same color?+
No. Taupe is #483C32 and Apricot is #FBCEB1. They differ by 3° in hue, 60% in lightness, and 72% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, taupe or apricot?+
Apricot is more saturated. In HSL, Taupe has 18% saturation and Apricot has 90% — Apricot is the more vivid of the two, while Taupe reads as more muted.
Is taupe warm or cool?+
Taupe (#483C32) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 27° 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 taupe and apricot together?+
Yes. Both taupe and apricot are orange shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use taupe as the dominant color and apricot as the accent or highlight.
What color family does taupe belong to?+
Taupe belongs to the orange family. Its HSL is 27°, 18%, 24% — a warm tone within the broader orange group.
What is the hex code for taupe?+
The hex code for Taupe is #483C32. In RGB, that's rgb(72, 60, 50), and in HSL it's hsl(27, 18%, 24%).
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%).