Shades of Terracotta: Names and Hex Codes

This is a practical reference for the most useful shades of terracotta, with accurate hex codes, RGB values, and notes on character and use. Terracotta is a warm, earthy orange-brown named after fired clay — softer than pure orange, warmer than brown, and far more grounded than coral. Small shifts toward brown, pink, or red turn it from a soft clay tint into a deep burnt sienna or a dusty rosy clay, so the right terracotta depends entirely on the mood you want. Use the table below as a citable palette, then read on for how the shades group together.

For how terracotta compares with its close relatives, see terracotta vs rust and terracotta vs brown; for the symbolism, read color psychology. The warm golden yellows that pair with it are covered in our shades of mustard reference, and the calming greens in shades of sage.

Shades of terracotta: full table

Shade name	Hex	RGB	Notes
Terracotta	#C36F4E	195, 111, 78	Warm clay orange-brown baseline.
Light Terracotta	#E2725B	226, 114, 91	Bright coral-leaning terracotta.
Burnt Terracotta	#A0522D	160, 82, 45	Deep burnt earthen terracotta.
Clay	#B66A50	182, 106, 80	Soft muted clay-brown.
Sienna	#A0522D	160, 82, 45	CSS sienna; classic earth-brown.
Rust Terracotta	#B7410E	183, 65, 14	Deep red-orange rust tone.
Pottery Terracotta	#CB6843	203, 104, 67	Classic fired-pot terracotta.
Soft Terracotta	#E08A6E	224, 138, 110	Gentle muted clay-pink.
Saddle Brown	#8B4513	139, 69, 19	CSS saddlebrown; deep earth.
Adobe	#D2876A	210, 135, 106	Warm sun-baked adobe clay.
Dark Terracotta	#9A4F33	154, 79, 51	Rich deep terracotta.
Brick Terracotta	#CC7357	204, 115, 87	Warm brick-toned terracotta.
Burnt Sienna	#E97451	233, 116, 81	Classic burnt sienna pigment.
Deep Clay	#7E3F23	126, 63, 35	Dark earthy clay-brown.
Dusty Terracotta	#D98B6F	217, 139, 111	Muted dusty clay-pink.
Ochre Terracotta	#B5651D	181, 101, 29	Yellow-leaning earthen clay.
Earthen Terracotta	#A95C44	169, 92, 68	Grounded muted terracotta.
Pale Terracotta	#EFA08B	239, 160, 139	Light blush clay tint.
Terracotta Brown	#6E3620	110, 54, 32	Deepest brown-terracotta.
Red Terracotta	#C75D45	199, 93, 69	Red-leaning warm terracotta.
Sand Terracotta	#DC9B7E	220, 155, 126	Sandy warm clay tone.
Terracotta Black	#5C2E1A	92, 46, 26	Near-black deepest terracotta.
Tuscan Terracotta	#BC6B4C	188, 107, 76	Warm Mediterranean clay.
Spiced Terracotta	#9C5840	156, 88, 64	Deep spiced clay-brown.
Canyon Terracotta	#C2755A	194, 117, 90	Warm desert-canyon clay.
Umber Terracotta	#864E33	134, 78, 51	Deep umber-brown clay.

Light and dusty terracottas

The lightest terracottas read as soft and rosy. Light Terracotta (#E2725B), Pale Terracotta (#EFA08B), Dusty Terracotta (#D98B6F), Soft Terracotta (#E08A6E), and Sand Terracotta (#DC9B7E) are the gentle, blush-leaning clay tones that feel warm and approachable. These light terracottas are everywhere in modern interiors and lifestyle branding because they read as cozy and organic without being heavy. Warmer desert variants like Canyon Terracotta (#C2755A) push the same family toward a sun-baked southwestern feel. They pair beautifully with cream, sage, and warm white for a soft, sun-faded palette, and because they sit close to skin tones they flatter lifestyle and product photography without competing with the subject.

True clay terracottas

The defining terracottas sit in warm mid-tones. Terracotta (#C36F4E), Clay (#B66A50), Pottery Terracotta (#CB6843), Brick Terracotta (#CC7357), and Tuscan Terracotta (#BC6B4C) are the fired-clay tones most people picture. The named Terracotta at #C36F4E is the reliable default — orange enough to feel warm, brown enough to stay earthy. These true terracottas are the workhorses of Mediterranean and earthy palettes, anchoring branding that wants warmth and craft.

Burnt and deep terracottas

The richest terracottas go dark and burnt. Burnt Terracotta (#A0522D), Sienna (#A0522D), Dark Terracotta (#9A4F33), Deep Clay (#7E3F23), Terracotta Brown (#6E3620), and Terracotta Black (#5C2E1A) are the deep, earthen tones that read as grounded and substantial. Sienna and Burnt Sienna (#E97451) take their names from the classic painter’s pigment. Umber-leaning variants such as Umber Terracotta (#864E33) bridge clay and chocolate for the richest anchors. These deep terracottas work as anchors, headers, and rich backgrounds where a pale clay would feel too slight, and they ground a warm palette the way a deep brown would while keeping a little more orange life in the color. For where terracotta tips fully into brown, see terracotta vs brown.

Rust and ochre-leaning terracottas

Terracotta tilts in two directions from its center. Push it toward red-orange and you get Rust Terracotta (#B7410E), Red Terracotta (#C75D45), and Burnt Sienna (#E97451), which feel bolder and more fiery. Push it toward yellow and you reach Ochre Terracotta (#B5651D), Adobe (#D2876A), and Spiced Terracotta (#9C5840), which feel dustier and more sun-baked. The rust end borders on true rust — for where that line falls, see terracotta vs rust.

Most popular shades of terracotta

The terracottas most people name and use are Terracotta (#C36F4E) as the warm baseline, Light Terracotta (#E2725B) for a brighter coral-clay, Burnt Terracotta (#A0522D) for a deep earthen anchor, Clay (#B66A50) for a soft muted tone, and Sienna (#A0522D) for the classic pigment. Together they cover light through clay to burnt, which is why they anchor most warm, earthy palettes.

How to use shades of terracotta in design

Terracotta signals warmth, craft, and natural grounding, so it lifts palettes that want to feel earthy and inviting. Use light terracottas like Light Terracotta and Dusty Terracotta for backgrounds and large surfaces; use true clay terracottas like Terracotta and Clay as the primary warm color; and reserve burnt terracottas like Burnt Terracotta and Deep Clay for anchors, headers, and accents. Terracotta pairs beautifully with sage green, cream, mustard, deep teal, and warm white, evoking Mediterranean warmth and handmade character. The main risk is that too many warm clay tones can feel muddy, so build contrast with a cool green or a clean cream. A reliable approach treats a burnt terracotta as your anchor, a true terracotta as the primary, and a pale clay or neutral for backgrounds. Because terracotta reads as warm and crafted, it suits home, lifestyle, hospitality, and artisan brands particularly well. To keep a terracotta palette from feeling one-note, vary the tones across the full range rather than repeating one mid-clay, letting a pale terracotta, a true terracotta, and a burnt anchor create depth the way a single fired pot shifts in color across its surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for terracotta?

The most common hex code for terracotta is #C36F4E (RGB 195, 111, 78), a warm clay orange-brown. For a brighter version use Light Terracotta (#E2725B), for a deeper one use Burnt Terracotta (#A0522D), and for the classic pigment use Sienna (#A0522D). Terracotta is defined by its earthy, fired-clay warmth.

What is the difference between terracotta and rust?

Terracotta is a warmer, more orange clay tone, while rust is darker, redder, and more oxidized. Terracotta reads as soft and earthen; rust reads as deep and metallic. The two meet at the burnt end of terracotta, but terracotta always leans more orange and rust more red-brown.

How many shades of terracotta are there?

Terracotta variations are effectively limitless because terracotta spans the orange-brown earth band, but designers typically reference 20 to 30 named shades. This list includes 24 of the most recognized, from pale clay tints through true terracottas to deep burnt and rust-leaning tones.

What colors go well with terracotta?

Terracotta pairs naturally with sage green, cream, mustard, and warm white for an earthy, Mediterranean palette. For more contrast, combine terracotta with deep teal or navy. Dusty and soft terracottas also work alongside blush and dusty blue for a warm, organic scheme.