Dark Orange

HEX: #FF8C00 | Modern Palette

On White
2.33:1
FAIL
On Black
9.00:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#FF8C00
RGB
255, 140, 0
HSL
32°, 100% ,50%
CMYK
0, 45, 100, 0

About Dark Orange

Dark Orange (#FF8C00) is a color with RGB(255, 140, 0) and HSL(32.9°, 100%, 50%). 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 #0073FF, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #00FF8C and #8C00FF. The name comes from Dark Orange (English).

  • HEX: #FF8C00
  • RGB: 255, 140, 0
  • HSL: 32.9°, 100%, 50%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #0073FF
  • Triadic colors: #00FF8C, #8C00FF
  • The name comes from Dark Orange (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Dark Orange #FF8C00 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.
 
 
DARK ORANGE
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
DARK ORANGE
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
DARK ORANGE
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Dark Orange #FF8C00 pairs with #0073FF as its complementary color, and #00FF8C and #8C00FF 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.

DARK ORANGE
Analogous

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

DARK ORANGE
Triadic

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

DARK ORANGE
Split-Complementary

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

DARK ORANGE
Tetradic (Square)

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

DARK ORANGE
Monochromatic

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

DARK ORANGE

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Dark Orange #FF8C00 moves from dark #1A0E00 tones through the base color to lighter #FFF4E6 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

DARK ORANGE

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #B8B800
Protanopia #9E9E0B
Tritanopia #FF8484
Achromatopsia #AAAAAA

Frequently Asked Questions

Dark Orange (#FF8C00) is a color with RGB(255, 140, 0) and HSL(32.9°, 100%, 50%).

#FF8C00 pairs strongly with #0073FF as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#FF8C00 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#FF8C00 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Dark Orange is linked to Dark Orange from English, meaning A shade of orange that is deeper or less vibrant than a pure or standard orange..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Dark Orange
Meaning A shade of orange that is deeper or less vibrant than a pure or standard orange.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th - Early 20th Century (as a specific color name)

History

The color orange itself is named after the fruit, which came to Europe from Asia. The word 'orange' entered English in the 16th century. As color science and industry developed, the need to differentiate shades became apparent. 'Dark orange' serves as a descriptive term to distinguish it from brighter or lighter oranges. In digital contexts, 'DarkOrange' (often without a space) is a recognized web color, with the hexadecimal code #FF8C00, standardized in HTML/CSS color specifications.

First Recorded Use

While 'orange' as a color has ancient roots, the specific compound 'dark orange' to denote a particular shade likely became common with the advent of more precise color naming conventions, color charts, and commercial dyes/paints. Its use as a distinct color name, rather than just a description, would solidify in the late 19th to early 20th century.

Cultural Associations

Dark orange, like other shades of orange, can evoke feelings of warmth, autumn, earthiness, and energy. It is often associated with sunsets, changing leaves, and certain spices. In some cultures, orange (including darker shades) can symbolize royalty, spirituality (e.g., in Hinduism and Buddhism), or creativity. Its 'darker' quality can lend it a more sophisticated or subdued feel compared to a vibrant, pure orange.

Similar Named Colors
Princeton Orange #FF8F00 ΔE 1.01
Tangerine #F28500 ΔE 2.66
Deep Saffron #FF9933 ΔE 3.41
University Of Tennessee Orange #F77F00 ΔE 3.88

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #FF8C00;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #FF8C00;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #FF8C00;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #FF8C00,
        #0073FF
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #FF8C00,
        #0073FF
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$dark-orange: #FF8C00;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$dark-orange-r: 255;
$dark-orange-g: 140;
$dark-orange-b: 0;

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