Anchor Stranded Cotton

303 — Burnt Orange Medium

Oranges family#F9A327

Anchor 303 (Burnt Orange Medium) is a medium-light, highly saturated orange shade with hex code #F9A327 and RGB values 249, 163, 39. Below you'll find the closest Sullivans, Cosmo, and Classic Colorworks equivalents — ranked by visual color similarity — plus 8 similar Anchor shades and color harmony pairings.

Hex
#F9A327
RGB
249, 163, 39
HSL
35°, 95%, 56%
Lab
73.9, 23.0, 70.7
Lightness
56%
Medium
Saturation
95%
Vivid
Hue
35°
Family
Oranges

About Anchor 303

Anchor Stranded Cotton Mouliné

Fiber
100% cotton
Sold as
8 m

Brand Equivalents for Anchor 303

The five closest matches in each brand, ranked by CIEDE2000 perceptual color difference.

Anchor 303Burnt Orange Medium

Similar Anchor Colors to 303

Closest Anchor threads by perceptual color distance, sorted from most to least similar.

Working with Anchor 303

On white fabric
2:1
On dark fabric
10.3:1
Temperature
warm
Closest to
gold

It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first.

Bold accents & focal points

With its high saturation, Anchor 303 (Burnt Orange Medium) draws the eye — a natural pick for focal motifs, small pops of color, and details you want to read first.

Color Harmonies for Anchor 303

Anchor threads that pair well with 303, based on color theory harmony rules in CIELAB color space.

Complementary
Opposite on the color wheel — maximum contrast
Analogous
Adjacent hues — smooth, natural transitions
Triadic
Evenly spaced at 120° — vibrant and balanced
Monochromatic
Same hue, different lightness — great for shading

Oranges Family

Anchor303 in context with nearby shades from the oranges color family.

About Anchor 303

Known as Burnt Orange Medium, Anchor 303 is a medium-light, highly saturated shade sitting in the oranges family with golden orange tones. This thread brings a crisp and versatile presence to projects featuring seasonal designs or pumpkins. Look for it in charts that feature marigolds or fall wreaths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Anchor 303 — what color is it?

The color of Anchor 303 is Burnt Orange Medium — a medium-light orange thread (hex #F9A327, RGB 249, 163, 39). It shows up most in monarch butterflies and persimmon patterns.

What is the DMC equivalent of Anchor 303?

The closest DMC match for Anchor 303 (Burnt Orange Medium) is DMC 742 (Tangerine light) with a 95% match based on visual color similarity. Other near matches include DMC 972 (Canary deep, 90%) and DMC 728 (Golden Yellow, 76%).

Which Anchor threads are close to 303?

The closest Anchor threads to 303 are 306 Gold (ΔE 3.42), 313 Tangerine Light (ΔE 4.79), and 1002 Golden Brown Very Light (ΔE 7.41). These are useful substitutes when 303 is unavailable or for building gradients.

What is Anchor 303 good for?

Anchor 303 (Burnt Orange Medium) is commonly used in cross-stitch projects featuring monarch butterflies, persimmon patterns, autumn leaves, sunsets. Its medium-light tone works well for standalone motifs and as part of larger palettes. This page includes color harmonies and similar shades to pair with 303.

What fabric color works best with Anchor 303 (Burnt Orange Medium)?

It has moderate contrast on both light and dark fabric — usable on either, but test a few stitches on your chosen ground first. For reference, 303 has a contrast ratio of about 2:1 on white fabric and 10.3:1 on black. As a warm shade, its warm cast advances toward the viewer — good for focal points, highlights, and cozy, inviting palettes.