Sunset
A pale orange shade named after the colour of clouds at sunset
Sunset is a light tint of orange, meant to match the average colour seen in clouds when the sun sets. The name was first used for this colour in English in 1916, and it is often chosen for interiors where a gentle, warm tone is wanted.
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- Sunset is a pale tint of orange
- Named after the colour of clouds at sunset
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1916
- Popular in interior design for a warm, gentle effect
What colour is Sunset?
Sunset is a pale, warm orange shade. It is designed to look like the typical colour of clouds lit by the sun as it sets. This gentle tint stands apart from deeper oranges by its lightness and soft, glowing quality. It is not as bold as other oranges, making it suitable for settings where a subtle warmth is wanted.
Where does Sunset come from?
The name 'sunset' for this colour comes from the appearance of clouds during a sunset, when sunlight gives them a pale orange glow. The term was first recorded as a colour name in English in 1916. It was chosen to capture the gentle, warm light seen at the end of the day.
Where Sunset is used
Sunset is a popular choice in interior design, where its pale warmth can create a welcoming atmosphere. It is also used in digital design and art, and may appear in textiles or architectural details when a soft orange is needed. Its gentle tone makes it versatile for many creative uses.
Orange around the world
What the orange family means from country to country.
The lowest band of the flag is orange, often called apricot, after the national fruit. The constitution says it stands for the creative talent and hard work of the people.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is split corner to corner. The orange half stands for the Buddhist tradition, and the white dragon across the middle for purity.
Sacred and holySource: Flag of BhutanOn 30 September people wear orange shirts to remember the children sent to residential schools. Phyllis Webstad's new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at one.
Mourning and deathPolitics and protestGriefSource: National Day for Truth and ReconciliationOrange is also the colour of the New Democratic Party. Its sweep of Quebec seats in the 2011 election was called the Orange Wave.
Politics and protestSource: New Democratic PartyThe flag shows the island in copper orange on white. The colour recalls copper, which was mined here in ancient times and may have taken its name from Cyprus.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of CyprusThe orange stripe of the flag stands for Protestants, the followers of William of Orange. In Northern Ireland the Orange Order still marches each 12 July in orange sashes.
Politics and protestSource: Orange OrderShades and relatives of Sunset
Related shades include sunglow and sunray, which are also named after sunlight effects and were first recorded in the 1920s. Sunset orange is a deeper, more vivid version and has been used in products like Crayola crayons and sports uniforms.
Colours that go with Sunset
Harmonies are worked out from the value #FAD6A5. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Sunset
What colour is sunset?
Sunset is a pale, warm shade of orange, meant to look like the average colour of clouds when sunlight from a sunset shines on them.
Where does the name 'sunset' for this colour come from?
The name comes from the appearance of clouds at sunset, when sunlight gives them a soft orange glow.
When was sunset first used as a colour name?
The first recorded use of 'sunset' as a colour name in English was in 1916.
Where is sunset used?
Sunset is used in interior design, digital design, art, and sometimes in textiles or architecture for its gentle, warm tone.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Sunset (color)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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