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Persimmon 17 / 27 Oranges Burnt Sienna
#E2725B
Orange family

Terracotta

Also known as: earthy · rustic · warm · natural · vibrant
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Hex #E2725B
RGB rgb(226, 114, 91)
HSL hsl(10°, 70%, 62%)
CMYK 0 · 50 · 60 · 11
RAL RAL 3014 · Antique Pink

RAL and NCS values are nearest equivalents, not official designations.

Meaning

In Mediterranean cultures, terracotta signifies durability and grounding, often used in architecture and art to symbolize connection to the earth. While it conveys warmth and comfort in Western settings, in some Asian cultures, it is linked to fertility and prosperity.

The term 'terracotta' originates from the Italian words 'terra' meaning 'earth' and 'cotta' meaning 'cooked'. Used extensively in art and architecture, terracotta sculptures date back to 3000 BC in the Indus Valley Civilization, showcasing its historical significance as both material and color.

earthyrusticwarmnaturalvibrant

The story of Terracotta

Where the name and the color come from.

Terracotta means "baked earth" in Italian (terra cotta), the name for fired, unglazed clay used since antiquity for pottery, roof tiles and sculpture. The color is the warm orange-brown that iron-rich clay turns in the kiln.

Because the material is everywhere in the ancient and Mediterranean world, the color carries deep associations with craft, sun and landscape. Its recent surge in interiors is really a rediscovery of one of humanity's oldest colors.

Where you'll see Terracotta

The places, brands and moments that shaped this color.

The Terracotta Army

Thousands of life-size fired-clay soldiers buried with China's first emperor are the most famous terracotta objects on earth.

Mediterranean architecture

Terracotta roof tiles and floor pavers define the look of Italian, Spanish and Greek vernacular building.

Pottery and plant pots

The humble clay flowerpot keeps terracotta tied to gardens and handmade craft.

Using Terracotta in design

How it behaves in interiors, fashion and branding.

Terracotta brings grounded, sun-baked warmth, which is why it anchored the Mediterranean-revival and earthy-modern interior trends. It works on walls, tile, plaster and textiles, and it flatters natural materials — wood, rattan, linen and stone.

In fashion and branding it reads as artisanal, warm and organic, a softer and more sophisticated alternative to bright orange.

What pairs with Terracotta

Curated combinations — and exactly why each one works.

Terracotta + Sage

The defining modern duo: warm terracotta against cool, dusty sage is earthy, balanced and instantly contemporary.

Terracotta + Cream

Cream and terracotta evoke sunlit plaster walls — soft, warm and Mediterranean.

Terracotta + Teal

Terracotta's near-complement, teal, gives a vivid yet earthy contrast popular in boho schemes.

Terracotta + Navy Blue

Deep navy sharpens terracotta's warmth into a crisp, grounded palette.

Similar colors

Ranked by CIE76 ΔE — the perceptual distance from Terracotta. Lower ΔE means a closer match (below ~2 is barely distinguishable).

All 27 Oranges →

Burnt Sienna

#E97451 · ΔE 7.4

Salmon

#FA8072 · ΔE 8.3

Coral Pink

#F88379 · ΔE 10.1

Cinnabar

#E44D2E · ΔE 23.5

Guava

#FA5B3D · ΔE 23.9

Vermilion

#E34234 · ΔE 24.2

Shades & tints

Nine steps of Terracotta by lightness — from #763B2F (darkest) to #F0B6AA (lightest). Click any to copy.

-40% #763B2F
-30% #91493A
-20% #AC5745
-10% #C76450
BASE #E2725B
+15% #E5836F
+30% #E99482
+50% #ECA596
+70% #F0B6AA

Complementary

Sitting opposite Terracotta at 190° on the color wheel, these give the highest-contrast pairings.

Powder Blue

#B0E0E6

Teal Blue

#367588

Deep Sky Blue

#00BFFF

Onyx

#353839

Palettes

Curated 5-color combinations featuring Terracotta.

#E2725B
#F4A460
#FFFFFF
#C2B280
#A0522D

Desert Sunset

Warm ambiance
#E2725B
#8B4513
#D3D3D3
#FFD700
#FF6347

Ancient Earth

Historical richness
#E2725B
#A52A2A
#F5F5F5
#D2691E
#FF4500

Rustic Charm

Cozy comfort

Terracotta scale

A 50–900 tonal scale with Terracotta anchored at 500 — ready to drop into a design system. Click any step to copy.

50 #FDF4F2
100 #FAE6E1
200 #F4C9C1
300 #EEADA0
400 #E8907D
500 #E2725B
600 #B95D4B
700 #954B3C
800 #71392E
900 #4D271F

Accessibility

Works well as text on dark backgrounds; fails on light.

Aa Best text color: #000000 · 6.79:1
Terracotta as text on… Ratio AA AAA
Aa White background 3.09:1 Large only Fail
Aa Black background 6.79:1 Pass Large only

Thresholds: AA needs 4.5:1 (normal text) / 3:1 (large); AAA needs 7:1 / 4.5:1. Large = 18pt+ or 14pt+ bold.

How to use #E2725B

Copy-ready values for CSS, screen and print, plus the extra conversions designers reach for.

CSS color: #E2725B;
CSS color-mix (lighten 30%) color-mix(in srgb, #E2725B 70%, white)
HSV / HSB 10°, 60%, 89%
CMYK (print) 0, 50, 60, 11
Decimal 14840411
Nearest web-safe #CC6666

Color vision

How Terracotta appears to viewers with the three main types of color blindness (~1 in 12 men, 1 in 200 women). Simulated approximations.

Normal vision

#E2725B

Protanopia (no red)

#B2B061

Deuteranopia (no green)

#B8C062

Tritanopia (no blue)

#DC6566

Terracotta FAQ

Quick answers to the questions people ask about Terracotta.

Is terracotta a warm color?

Very — terracotta is a warm orange-brown derived from fired clay. Its warmth is exactly why it feels cozy and grounding and why it pairs so well with cool tones like sage and teal.

What is the difference between terracotta and rust?

Terracotta is lighter and pinker, with a clay-like softness, while rust is deeper and browner, the color of oxidized iron. Terracotta reads sunlit and Mediterranean; rust reads autumnal and weathered.

What colors go with terracotta?

Sage and olive greens for an earthy modern look, cream and beige for warmth, teal and navy for cool contrast, and blush or mustard to extend the warm palette.

Persimmon 17 / 27 Oranges Burnt Sienna
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