Shades of Chartreuse: Names and Hex Codes
There are many recognized shades of chartreuse, from the electric yellow-green classic to softer pastels and muted olive tones. Below is a practitioner reference: each shade with its name, hex code, RGB value, and a note on where it works best. Use it as a swatch library when building a palette, and pair it with our guide to color psychology when you need the symbolism behind the swatch.
A quick note on terminology, because chartreuse sits exactly between yellow and green. Chartreuse — commonly cited as #7FFF00 — is a vivid yellow-green halfway between the two on the color wheel, named after the French liqueur. It is frequently confused with lime (a touch greener) and yellow (warmer). If you need that distinction, see our comparisons of chartreuse vs lime and chartreuse vs yellow. Throughout this guide, “shades of chartreuse” covers every named variation in that bright yellow-green family.
Each entry below gives three values so you can use it anywhere: the hex code (for CSS, HTML, and most design tools), the RGB triplet (for screen-based tools that ask for red, green, and blue channels separately), and a short note on the mood and best use of that shade. If you need CMYK or a Pantone match for print, convert from the hex value in your design software, and always proof — bright yellow-greens shift noticeably between screen and press.
Classic chartreuses
These are the core chartreuses most people picture — vivid, electric yellow-greens used in fashion, sport, and high-energy branding.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse | #7FFF00 | 127, 255, 0 | Classic vivid yellow-green; bold, electric. |
| Green Chartreuse | #7FFF00 | 127, 255, 0 | The web-standard chartreuse; bright, fresh. |
| Yellow-Green | #9ACD32 | 154, 205, 50 | Softer balanced yellow-green; natural, lively. |
| Electric Chartreuse | #80FF00 | 128, 255, 0 | High-voltage neon green; intense, modern. |
| Apple Chartreuse | #8BBF00 | 139, 191, 0 | Crisp apple-green; fresh, energetic. |
| Spring Chartreuse | #A2D729 | 162, 215, 41 | Bright leafy green; vivid, natural. |
Yellow chartreuses
The warmer, more golden chartreuses — pushed toward yellow for a sunnier, more acidic glow.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Chartreuse | #DFFF00 | 223, 255, 0 | Acid yellow-green; bright, citrusy. |
| Lemon Chartreuse | #E4FF1A | 228, 255, 26 | Zesty yellow-leaning green; punchy, fresh. |
| Electric Lime | #CCFF00 | 204, 255, 0 | Neon yellow-green; loud, eye-catching. |
| Pale Yellow Chartreuse | #EFFD5F | 239, 253, 95 | Soft acid yellow; mellow, bright. |
| Citron Chartreuse | #D6E000 | 214, 224, 0 | Golden citrus green; warm, vivid. |
| Pale Chartreuse | #DEFF8C | 222, 255, 140 | Light pastel yellow-green; soft, airy. |
Green chartreuses
The cooler, more saturated greens of the family — chartreuse pushed toward leaf and grass.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf Chartreuse | #66B032 | 102, 176, 50 | Deep leafy green; natural, grounded. |
| Grass Chartreuse | #7CB518 | 124, 181, 24 | Vivid grass-green; fresh, lively. |
| Moss Chartreuse | #6BA539 | 107, 165, 57 | Muted green-leaning; earthy, calm. |
| Apple Green Chartreuse | #8DB600 | 141, 182, 0 | Crisp green-yellow; bright, clean. |
| Forest Chartreuse | #5DA130 | 93, 161, 48 | Deep saturated green; lush, natural. |
Olive and muted chartreuses
Pushed toward gray and brown, these muted chartreuses signal earthiness and sophistication — ideal for organic and editorial palettes.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Chartreuse | #9B9B3D | 155, 155, 61 | Muted olive-green; earthy, refined. |
| Olive Drab Chartreuse | #808000 | 128, 128, 0 | Classic olive; grounded, military. |
| Dark Chartreuse | #A9A957 | 169, 169, 87 | Deep gray-green; subtle, sophisticated. |
| Dusty Chartreuse | #BAB86C | 186, 184, 108 | Muted khaki-green; calm, organic. |
| Acid Olive | #C9CC3F | 201, 204, 63 | Bright muted yellow-green; edgy, modern. |
What are the most popular shades of chartreuse?
The most-used named chartreuses in design are chartreuse (#7FFF00), yellow chartreuse (#DFFF00), green chartreuse (#7FFF00), pale chartreuse (#DEFF8C), and olive chartreuse (#9B9B3D). Classic chartreuse dominates high-energy fashion and sport branding; yellow chartreuse brings acidic brightness; pale chartreuse softens for backgrounds; and olive chartreuse grounds a palette. Brighter chartreuses feel bold and youthful, while muted chartreuses project earthiness and restraint.
Chartreuse’s appeal is that it is one of the most attention-grabbing colors in the spectrum — sitting at peak luminance between yellow and green, it reads as fresh, alive, and slightly electric. That makes it a favorite for sportswear, energy and tech brands, festival graphics, and any identity that wants to feel current and high-voltage. Because it sits between yellow and green, chartreuse flexes from neon and youthful to olive and organic. Choosing a chartreuse is really choosing how warm, how bright, or how muted you want that yellow-green to lean.
Chartreuse is one of the trickiest colors to use well because its high saturation can overwhelm a layout and strain the eye at large sizes. On screen, a hex like #7FFF00 is intensely bright — often brighter than expected — so it usually works best as an accent rather than a field color. The values in the tables above — chartreuse at #7FFF00, yellow chartreuse at #DFFF00, olive chartreuse at #9B9B3D — are the widely cited references, but always test contrast and size in context. This matters doubly in digital interfaces, where pure chartreuse can fail accessibility contrast checks against white and needs a darker neutral behind it. A practical workflow is to keep one vivid chartreuse for accents and a muted olive-leaning chartreuse for larger areas, so the brightness reads as a deliberate highlight rather than a wall of glare. In print, chartreuse can also look duller than on screen because the gamut is narrower, so request a press proof before committing to a vivid value.
How to use shades of chartreuse in design
Chartreuse is a high-energy accent that signals freshness and modernity. Pair classic chartreuse with deep charcoal or black for maximum punch, or with navy and white for a sharp, contemporary palette. Muted olive chartreuse works beautifully as a sophisticated, organic base, while pale chartreuse softens the family for gentle backgrounds.
Practical guidance: chartreuse’s near-complement is a deep violet or magenta, which gives a vivid, high-contrast pairing — striking but use it sparingly. For type, chartreuse rarely works as body text because it lacks contrast on white; reserve it for accents, highlights, or large display on dark backgrounds. To keep chartreuse from feeling garish, anchor it with neutrals and plenty of negative space. Chartreuse sits right next to lime and yellow; see our comparisons of chartreuse vs lime and chartreuse vs yellow, and explore neighboring tones in our reference on shades of seafoam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for chartreuse?
Chartreuse is most commonly cited as #7FFF00, which is RGB 127, 255, 0 — a vivid yellow-green sitting exactly halfway between yellow and green on the color wheel. This is the web-standard value, sometimes called green chartreuse to distinguish it from the yellower variant.
What is the difference between chartreuse and lime?
Chartreuse (#7FFF00) sits exactly between yellow and green, while lime leans slightly greener and is often a touch deeper. Both are vivid yellow-greens, but chartreuse reads as more acidic and yellow-tinged. See our full chartreuse vs lime comparison for examples and palette ideas.
Is chartreuse yellow or green?
Chartreuse is both — it sits precisely midway between yellow and green on the color wheel. Yellow chartreuse (#DFFF00) leans warmer toward yellow, while green chartreuse (#7FFF00) and leaf chartreuse lean cooler toward green. The classic value is balanced between the two.
Which shade of chartreuse is best for a brand?
For bold, energetic identities, classic chartreuse (#7FFF00) reads modern and high-voltage. For organic or editorial brands, olive chartreuse (#9B9B3D) feels earthy and refined. For soft backgrounds, pale chartreuse (#DEFF8C) is gentle. Choose by how bright versus how muted you want the identity to feel.
What colors go well with chartreuse?
Chartreuse pairs strikingly with deep violet or magenta — its near-complement — for vivid contrast, and with charcoal, black, and white for a sharp modern palette. Navy grounds it for a contemporary look, while soft gray lets it shine as an accent without overwhelming.
