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Terracotta vs Ochre: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Terracotta and Ochre is hue — Terracotta is a warm red, while Ochre is a warm orange. Terracotta (#E2725B) has an HSL of 10°, 70%, 62%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.

Terracotta#E2725B
Ochre#CC7722
#E2725BBlended: #D7753F#CC7722
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Terracotta vs Ochre: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Terracotta Ochre
BrightnessLight (L=62%) — airy, soft, approachableMedium (L=47%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=70%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=71%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#E2725B#CC7722
RGB226, 114, 91204, 119, 34

Can you use Terracotta and Ochre together?

Ochre text on Terracotta
Terracotta text on Ochre
Contrast Ratio:1.09:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Terracotta and Ochre Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Terracotta is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 20° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Terracotta or Ochre: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickOchre

Ochre is more saturated (71% HSL vs 70%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Terracotta can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickOchre

Ochre hits a 3.37:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Terracotta only reaches 3.09:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickTerracotta

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickTerracotta

Terracotta is the more muted of the two (70% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Ochre's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Terracotta vs Ochre in Design

Use Terracotta for:
●Alerts, errors, stop states
●Sale & promotion banners
●Food and beverage packaging
●Sports and energy branding
●Romantic & bold fashion
Use Ochre for:
●Call-to-action buttons
●Autumn and harvest themes
●Food, citrus, warmth branding
●Youthful energetic campaigns
●Friendly notification badges

Terracotta and Ochre Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Terracotta#E2725B

Terracotta (#E2725B) is a light, vivid red with a warm undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Ochre#CC7722

Ochre (#CC7722) 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

Terracotta 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
Terracotta text on white
3.09:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on black
6.79:1AA
Sample text preview
Ochre text on white
3.37:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Ochre text on black
6.23:1AA
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on Ochre
1.09:1Fail
Sample text preview
Ochre text on Terracotta
1.09:1Fail

Explore Terracotta and Ochre individually

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

Terracotta color page#E2725B · shades, tints, pairingsOchre color page#CC7722 · shades, tints, pairings

More Terracotta and Ochre Comparisons

TanvsTerracottaTanvsOchreRedvsTerracottaRustvsOchreTerracottavsRustPeruvsOchreRustvsTerracottaSandvsOchreSagevsTerracottaPeachvsOchreTerracottavsSageHoneyvsOchre

Terracotta vs Ochre FAQ

What is the difference between terracotta and ochre?+
The main difference between Terracotta and Ochre is hue — Terracotta is a warm red, while Ochre is a warm orange. Terracotta (#E2725B) has an HSL of 10°, 70%, 62%, whereas Ochre (#CC7722) sits at 30°, 71%, 47%.
Is terracotta darker than ochre?+
No. Ochre is the darker of the two at 47% lightness, while Terracotta sits higher at 62%.
Are terracotta and ochre the same color?+
No. Terracotta is #E2725B and Ochre is #CC7722. They differ by 20° in hue, 15% in lightness, and 1% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, terracotta or ochre?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Terracotta at 70% and Ochre at 71% in HSL.
Is terracotta warm or cool?+
Terracotta (#E2725B) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 10° 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 terracotta and ochre together?+
Yes. Terracotta (red) and Ochre (orange) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does terracotta belong to?+
Terracotta belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 10°, 70%, 62% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for terracotta?+
The hex code for Terracotta is #E2725B. In RGB, that's rgb(226, 114, 91), and in HSL it's hsl(10, 70%, 62%).
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%).