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Tomato vs Terracotta: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Tomato and Terracotta is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Tomato is more saturated. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Terracotta (#E2725B) sits at 10°, 70%, 62%.

Tomato#FF6347
Terracotta#E2725B
#FF6347Blended: #F16B51#E2725B

Tomato vs Terracotta: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Tomato Terracotta
BrightnessLight (L=64%) — airy, soft, approachableLight (L=62%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=70%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyRedRed
TemperatureWarmWarm
Hex code#FF6347#E2725B
RGB255, 99, 71226, 114, 91

Can you use Tomato and Terracotta together?

Terracotta text on Tomato
Tomato text on Terracotta
Contrast Ratio:1.05:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Tomato and Terracotta Apart

  • 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 Terracotta in Design

Use Tomato for:
Alerts, errors, stop states
Sale & promotion banners
Food and beverage packaging
Sports and energy branding
Romantic & bold fashion
Use Terracotta for:
Alerts, errors, stop states
Sale & promotion banners
Food and beverage packaging
Sports and energy branding
Romantic & bold fashion

Tomato and Terracotta 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
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

Tomato and Terracotta 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
Terracotta text on white
3.09:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on black
6.79:1AA
Sample text preview
Tomato text on Terracotta
1.05:1Fail
Sample text preview
Terracotta text on Tomato
1.05:1Fail

Explore Tomato and Terracotta individually

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

Tomato color page#FF6347 · shades, tints, pairingsTerracotta color page#E2725B · shades, tints, pairings

More Tomato and Terracotta Comparisons

Tomato vs Terracotta FAQ

What is the difference between tomato and terracotta?+
The main difference between Tomato and Terracotta is brightness and saturation: both are red shades, but they share similar brightness and Tomato is more saturated. Tomato (#FF6347) has an HSL of 9°, 100%, 64%, whereas Terracotta (#E2725B) sits at 10°, 70%, 62%.
Is tomato darker than terracotta?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Tomato sits at 64% lightness and Terracotta at 62% — the difference is only 2 percentage points.
Are tomato and terracotta the same color?+
No. Tomato is #FF6347 and Terracotta is #E2725B. They differ by 1° in hue, 2% in lightness, and 30% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, tomato or terracotta?+
Tomato is more saturated. In HSL, Tomato has 100% saturation and Terracotta has 70% — Tomato is the more vivid of the two, while Terracotta 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 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.
Can you use tomato and terracotta together?+
Yes. Both tomato and terracotta are red shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use terracotta as the dominant color and tomato as the accent or highlight.
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 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%).