Rust vs Terracotta
Can you tell them apart?
#B7410E
#E2725B
Perceptual difference (ΔE): 25.1 — clearly different.
Rust and terracotta are both warm earth-tone orange-reds that have powered the maximalist interiors trend for years, close enough to create real indecision in paint stores. Rust is darker and more red-brown, named after the oxidation product of iron — it has a deep, worn quality, like something recovered from the elements. Terracotta, Italian for 'baked earth', is warmer and more orange, lighter in value, and named after the characteristic colour of unglazed clay pots and Italian rooftiles. Rust is what terracotta looks like after a hundred years in the weather.
How to tell them apart
Terracotta is more orange and lighter; rust is darker and more red-brown. If it looks like a Mediterranean flower pot, a Tuscan wall, or sun-baked clay, it's terracotta; if it looks like an old iron gate, corroded metal, or a deep earthy red, it's rust.
Color values
| HEX | #B7410E |
|---|---|
| RGB | 183, 65, 14 |
| HSL | 18°, 86%, 39% |
| CMYK | 0, 64, 92, 28 |
| HEX | #E2725B |
|---|---|
| RGB | 226, 114, 91 |
| HSL | 10°, 70%, 62% |
| CMYK | 0, 50, 60, 11 |
FAQ
- Is rust darker than terracotta?
- Yes. Rust is a darker, more red-brown orange; terracotta is lighter and more orange-red.
- Is terracotta more orange than rust?
- Yes. Terracotta leans more toward orange with warmth and lightness; rust leans more toward dark red-brown.