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Tomato vs Apricot: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tomato and Apricot is hue — Tomato is a warm red, while Apricot is a warm orange. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.

Tomato#FF6347
Apricot#FBCEB1
#FF6347Blended: #FD997C#FBCEB1

Tomato vs Apricot: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tomato Apricot
BrightnessLight (L=64%) — airy, soft, approachableVery light (L=84%) — pale, delicate, gentle
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=90%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FF6347#FBCEB1
RGB255, 99, 71251, 206, 177

Can you use Tomato and Apricot together?

Apricot text on Tomato
Tomato text on Apricot
Contrast Ratio:2.04:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tomato and Apricot Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Apricot is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Tomato looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 15° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Tomato vs Apricot in Design

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

Tomato and Apricot Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Tomato#FF6347

Tomato (#FF6347) 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
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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
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Tomato 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
Tomato text on white
2.95:1Fail
Sample text preview
Tomato text on black
7.13:1AAA
Sample text preview
Apricot text on white
1.44:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on black
14.57:1AAA
Sample text preview
Tomato text on Apricot
2.04:1Fail
Sample text preview
Apricot text on Tomato
2.04:1Fail

Explore Tomato and Apricot individually

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

Tomato color page#FF6347 · shades, tints, pairingsApricot color page#FBCEB1 · shades, tints, pairings

More Tomato and Apricot Comparisons

Tomato vs Apricot FAQ

What is the difference between tomato and apricot?+
The main difference between Tomato and Apricot is hue — Tomato is a warm red, while Apricot is a warm orange. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Apricot (#FBCEB1) sits at 24°, 90%, 84%.
Is tomato darker than apricot?+
Yes. Tomato is darker, with a lightness of 64% in HSL compared to Apricot at 84% — a 20-point gap.
Are tomato and apricot the same color?+
No. Tomato is #FF6347 and Apricot is #FBCEB1. They differ by 15° in hue, 20% in lightness, and 10% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, tomato or apricot?+
Tomato is more saturated. In HSL, Tomato has 100% saturation and Apricot has 90% — Tomato is the more vivid of the two, while Apricot reads as more muted.
Is tomato warm or cool?+
Tomato (#FF6347) is a warm red. Its hue sits at 9° 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 tomato and apricot together?+
Yes. Tomato (red) and Apricot (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 tomato belong to?+
Tomato belongs to the red family. Its HSL is 9°, 100%, 64% — a warm tone within the broader red group.
What is the hex code for tomato?+
The hex code for Tomato is #FF6347. In RGB, that's rgb(255, 99, 71), and in HSL it's hsl(9, 100%, 64%).
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%).