Terra Cotta

HEX: #E2725B | Modern Palette

On White
3.09:1
FAIL
On Black
6.79:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#E2725B
RGB
226, 114, 91
HSL
10°, 69% ,62%
CMYK
0, 50, 60, 11

About Terra Cotta

Terra Cotta (#E2725B) is a color with RGB(226, 114, 91) and HSL(10.2°, 69.9%, 62.2%). It is commonly associated with Playful, Romantic moods. In design, it fits Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #5BCBE2, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #5BE272 and #725BE2. The name comes from terra cotta (Italian).

  • HEX: #E2725B
  • RGB: 226, 114, 91
  • HSL: 10.2°, 69.9%, 62.2%
  • Mood: Playful, Romantic
  • Style: Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #5BCBE2
  • Triadic colors: #5BE272, #725BE2
  • The name comes from terra cotta (Italian).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Terra Cotta #E2725B 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.
 
 
 
TERRA COTTA
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
TERRA COTTA
 
 
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

Terra Cotta #E2725B pairs with #5BCBE2 as its complementary color, and #5BE272 and #725BE2 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.

TERRA COTTA
Analogous

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

TERRA COTTA
Triadic

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

TERRA COTTA
Split-Complementary

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

TERRA COTTA
Tetradic (Square)

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

TERRA COTTA
Monochromatic

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

TERRA COTTA

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Terra Cotta #E2725B moves from dark #160704 tones through the base color to lighter #FBECE9 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

TERRA COTTA

Color Characteristics

Mood
Playful Romantic
Style
Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #9E9E55
Protanopia #85855C
Tritanopia #E36F6F
Achromatopsia #929292

Frequently Asked Questions

Terra Cotta (#E2725B) is a color with RGB(226, 114, 91) and HSL(10.2°, 69.9%, 62.2%).

#E2725B pairs strongly with #5BCBE2 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#E2725B is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Warm styles.

#E2725B is commonly associated with Playful, Romantic.

The name Terra Cotta is linked to terra cotta from Italian, meaning baked earth.

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word terra cotta
Meaning baked earth
Language Italian
First Recorded Use Ancient

History

Terra cotta is a type of earthenware, a clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic, where the fired body is porous. Its uses include pottery (flower pots, water and waste pipes, roofing tiles, bricks), and surface embellishment in buildings. The color #e2725b is a common representation of the reddish-brown hue of fired clay. Historically, it was widely used in ancient Mediterranean cultures (Greek, Roman, Etruscan) for sculpture, architectural decoration, and utilitarian objects. It saw a revival in the Victorian era for architectural details and garden ornaments.

First Recorded Use

The material itself has been used since prehistoric times (e.g., Venus of Dolní Věstonice, c. 29,000–25,000 BCE). The term 'terra cotta' in English is recorded from the 17th century.

Cultural Associations

Terra cotta is deeply embedded in human history, representing one of the earliest forms of art and utility. Its natural, earthy tone evokes warmth, tradition, and craftsmanship. It is associated with classical art, rustic charm, and durable construction. Famous examples include the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang and numerous ancient Greek and Roman sculptures and vessels.

Similar Named Colors
Burnt Sienna #E97451 ΔE 3.58
Jelly Bean #DA614E ΔE 4.51
Bittersweet #FE6F5E ΔE 5.04
Copper Red #CB6D51 ΔE 5.09

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #E2725B;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #E2725B;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #E2725B;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #E2725B,
        #5BCBE2
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #E2725B,
        #5BCBE2
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$terra-cotta: #E2725B;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$terra-cotta-r: 226;
$terra-cotta-g: 114;
$terra-cotta-b: 91;

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