Burnt Orange

HEX: #CC5500 | Modern Palette

On White
4.31:1
FAIL
On Black
4.87:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#CC5500
RGB
204, 85, 0
HSL
25°, 100% ,40%
CMYK
0, 58, 100, 20

About Burnt Orange

Burnt Orange (#CC5500) is a color with RGB(204, 85, 0) and HSL(25°, 100%, 40%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #0077CC, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #00CC55 and #5500CC. The name comes from Burnt Orange (English).

  • HEX: #CC5500
  • RGB: 204, 85, 0
  • HSL: 25°, 100%, 40%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #0077CC
  • Triadic colors: #00CC55, #5500CC
  • The name comes from Burnt Orange (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Burnt Orange #CC5500 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Burnt Orange #CC5500 pairs with #0077CC as its complementary color, and #00CC55 and #5500CC in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

BURNT ORANGE
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

BURNT ORANGE
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

BURNT ORANGE
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

BURNT ORANGE
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

BURNT ORANGE
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

BURNT ORANGE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Burnt Orange #CC5500 moves from dark #1A0B00 tones through the base color to lighter #FFF0E6 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

BURNT ORANGE

Color Characteristics

Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #868600
Protanopia #6B6B08
Tritanopia #CE5050
Achromatopsia #7A7A7A

Frequently Asked Questions

Burnt Orange (#CC5500) is a color with RGB(204, 85, 0) and HSL(25°, 100%, 40%).

#CC5500 pairs strongly with #0077CC as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#CC5500 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#CC5500 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Burnt Orange is linked to Burnt Orange from English, meaning A shade of orange that resembles the color of burnt wood or a deeper, less vibrant orange..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Burnt Orange
Meaning A shade of orange that resembles the color of burnt wood or a deeper, less vibrant orange.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th - Early 20th Century

History

The concept of 'burnt' colors has existed for centuries, referring to pigments that were heated or had a darker, more muted tone. 'Burnt Orange' specifically gained prominence as a named color in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its association with the University of Texas at Austin, which adopted it as a school color in 1900, significantly boosted its recognition and specific shade definition. Over time, various industries, from fashion to automotive, have used and interpreted 'Burnt Orange,' leading to slight variations in its exact hue, though it generally remains a deep, reddish-orange.

First Recorded Use

The exact first documented use of 'Burnt Orange' as a specific color name is difficult to pinpoint to a single date, but its popularization as a distinct color term, especially in fashion and design, solidified around the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The University of Texas at Austin officially adopted it as one of its school colors in 1900.

Cultural Associations

**University of Texas at Austin:** Perhaps its most famous cultural association, 'Burnt Orange' is one of the official colors of the University of Texas at Austin, making it a symbol of the university and its sports teams (the Texas Longhorns). **Autumn/Fall:** The color is strongly associated with autumn foliage, harvest, and the fall season due to its warm, earthy tones. **Retro/Vintage:** 'Burnt Orange' was a popular color in interior design and fashion during the 1960s and 1970s, giving it a retro or vintage aesthetic today. **Warmth and Energy:** Psychologically, it often evokes feelings of warmth, energy, enthusiasm, and comfort, similar to other orange and red tones but with a more grounded feel.

Similar Named Colors

Tawny #CD5700 ΔE 0.66
Alloy Orange #C46210 ΔE 4.28
Ruddy Brown #BB6528 ΔE 5.48
Chocolate #D2691E ΔE 5.49

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #CC5500;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #CC5500;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #CC5500;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #CC5500,
        #0077CC
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #CC5500,
        #0077CC
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$burnt-orange: #CC5500;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$burnt-orange-r: 204;
$burnt-orange-g: 85;
$burnt-orange-b: 0;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $burnt-orange;
    color: rgba($burnt-orange-r, $burnt-orange-g, $burnt-orange-b, 0.8);
}