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Tomato vs Rust: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tomato and Rust is hue — Tomato is a warm red, while Rust is a warm orange. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Rust (#B7410E) sits at 18°, 86%, 39%.

Tomato#FF6347
Rust#B7410E
#FF6347Blended: #DB522B#B7410E

Tomato vs Rust: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tomato Rust
BrightnessLight (L=64%) — airy, soft, approachableDark (L=39%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=86%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedOrange
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FF6347#B7410E
RGB255, 99, 71183, 65, 14

Can you use Tomato and Rust together?

Rust text on Tomato
Tomato text on Rust
Contrast Ratio:1.89:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tomato and Rust Apart

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

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

Tomato and Rust 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
Shades
Tints
Rust#B7410E

Rust (#B7410E) is a dark, vivid orange with a warm undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Tomato and Rust 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
Rust text on white
5.56:1AA
Sample text preview
Rust text on black
3.78:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Tomato text on Rust
1.89:1Fail
Sample text preview
Rust text on Tomato
1.89:1Fail

Explore Tomato and Rust individually

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

Tomato color page#FF6347 · shades, tints, pairingsRust color page#B7410E · shades, tints, pairings

More Tomato and Rust Comparisons

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Tomato vs Rust FAQ

What is the difference between tomato and rust?+
The main difference between Tomato and Rust is hue — Tomato is a warm red, while Rust is a warm orange. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Rust (#B7410E) sits at 18°, 86%, 39%.
Is tomato darker than rust?+
No. Rust is the darker of the two at 39% lightness, while Tomato sits higher at 64%.
Are tomato and rust the same color?+
No. Tomato is #FF6347 and Rust is #B7410E. They differ by 9° in hue, 25% in lightness, and 14% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, tomato or rust?+
Tomato is more saturated. In HSL, Tomato has 100% saturation and Rust has 86% — Tomato is the more vivid of the two, while Rust 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 rust warm or cool?+
Rust (#B7410E) is a warm orange. Its hue sits at 18° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm range.
Can you use tomato and rust together?+
Yes. Tomato (red) and Rust (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 rust?+
The hex code for Rust is #B7410E. In RGB, that's rgb(183, 65, 14), and in HSL it's hsl(18, 86%, 39%).