Dark Orange
Dark Orange Parameter Conversion Table
More converters →Dark Orange Color Schemes
Dark Orange WCAG Accessibility Contrast
WCAG Calculator →The contrast ratio of this color against common foreground/background colors (based on the WCAG 2.1 standard)
Dark Orange Shade Variants
Gradient Generator →Dark Orange Color Introduction
Definition
Dark Orange (HEX #FF8C00) has the RGB value rgb(255, 140, 0), the HSL value hsl(33°, 100%, 50%) and the CMYK print value cmyk(0%, 45%, 100%, 0%). In terms of color schemes, the complement of Dark Orange is #0073FF, and placing the two side by side produces a striking, eye-catching contrast; paired with the analogous colors #FF0D00 and #F2FF00 that sit next to it on the color wheel, it transitions naturally and harmoniously; in a split-complementary scheme (#00F2FF, #0C00FF) it keeps its contrast tension without losing layering; and a monochromatic scheme built on Dark Orange uses gradients of lightness and saturation to create a unified design with a strong sense of depth. Under the WCAG accessibility standard, Dark Orange has a contrast ratio of 2.33:1 against white and 9.00:1 against black; paired with a black background it reaches AAA, making it ideal for text and accent colors in dark mode.
Color Characteristics
Orange blends the passion of red with the brightness of yellow, evoking sunsets, fruit and campfires. Warm yet energetic, it is widely used in food, e-commerce and sports brands. Specifically, Dark Orange has a lightness of 50% and a saturation of 100%, striking and generous as a background or primary color, offering good readability with either light or dark text; moreover, its saturation is extremely high and its visual tension is strong, so it works best used sparingly as a focal accent. In a word: The Web-standard dark orange.
Color Psychology
Orange can evoke pleasure, friendliness and appetite, with a marked approachable quality; psychologically it symbolizes vitality, optimism and creativity. For this reason Dark Orange tends to leave a first impression of being warm and friendly in the viewer’s mind, and this emotional tone also defines the role it plays in design.
Best Uses
Orange suits food packaging, e-commerce campaigns, children’s products and any scene that needs to convey warmth and energy. In real projects, Dark Orange is also often used as a dark background or heading text color; in “Orange”-themed designs, the adjacent colors or lightness gradients built around it quickly establish a cohesive, clearly layered color scheme.
Dark Orange Featured In
This color is included in the following color cards and color families. Click a card to browse more colors in the corresponding collection.


