Shades of Cyan: Names and Hex Codes
This is a practical reference for the most useful shades of cyan, with accurate hex codes, RGB values, and notes on character and use. Cyan sits between green and blue — fresher and brighter than a deep blue, cooler and crisper than a leafy green. Small shifts toward green, blue, or black turn it from a glowing electric hue into a deep teal or a soft robin’s-egg sky tone, so the right cyan 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 cyan compares with its close relatives, see cyan vs teal; for the symbolism, read color psychology. The neighbouring jewel greens are covered in our shades of emerald reference, and the deep blues in our shades of indigo reference.
Shades of cyan: full table
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyan | #00FFFF | 0, 255, 255 | CSS cyan; maximum-bright aqua. |
| Aqua | #00FFFF | 0, 255, 255 | CSS aqua; identical to cyan. |
| Dark Cyan | #008B8B | 0, 139, 139 | CSS darkcyan; deep muted cyan. |
| Teal | #008080 | 0, 128, 128 | CSS teal; deep blue-green cyan. |
| Robin Egg | #00CCCC | 0, 204, 204 | Bright soft sky-cyan. |
| Electric Cyan | #0FF0FC | 15, 240, 252 | Glowing neon cyan. |
| Sky Cyan | #80DEEA | 128, 222, 234 | Soft pale sky-cyan. |
| Cyan Blue | #00B7EB | 0, 183, 235 | Blue-leaning bright cyan. |
| Bright Cyan | #4DFFFF | 77, 255, 255 | Vivid light electric cyan. |
| Cyan Cobalt | #00A4A4 | 0, 164, 164 | Balanced mid teal-cyan. |
| Aquamarine | #7FFFD4 | 127, 255, 212 | CSS aquamarine; green-cyan tint. |
| Turquoise Cyan | #40E0D0 | 64, 224, 208 | CSS turquoise; green-leaning cyan. |
| Deep Cyan | #006666 | 0, 102, 102 | Dark muted teal-cyan. |
| Medium Cyan | #48D1CC | 72, 209, 204 | CSS mediumturquoise; soft bright. |
| Dark Turquoise Cyan | #00CED1 | 0, 206, 209 | CSS darkturquoise; vivid cyan. |
| Pale Cyan | #AFEEEE | 175, 238, 238 | CSS paleturquoise; very light. |
| Pacific Cyan | #22CCDD | 34, 204, 221 | Bright ocean-toned cyan. |
| Midnight Cyan | #004B49 | 0, 75, 73 | Deepest near-black teal-cyan. |
| Spring Cyan | #00FFEF | 0, 255, 239 | Bright green-tilted cyan. |
| Cadet Cyan | #5F9EA0 | 95, 158, 160 | CSS cadetblue; muted grey-cyan. |
| Mint Cyan | #A0E7E5 | 160, 231, 229 | Soft pastel mint-cyan. |
| Bondi Cyan | #0095B6 | 0, 149, 182 | Deep ocean blue-cyan. |
| Vivid Cyan | #2EE6D6 | 46, 230, 214 | Bright tropical cyan. |
| Forest Cyan | #003B3B | 0, 59, 59 | Very dark deep teal-cyan. |
Electric and bright cyans
The defining cyans glow. Cyan (#00FFFF), Aqua (#00FFFF), Electric Cyan (#0FF0FC), and Bright Cyan (#4DFFFF) are the maximum-saturation blue-greens that light up a screen. Cyan and Aqua share the exact same hex (#00FFFF) — they are two CSS names for one color, sitting precisely between green and blue. This electric cyan is a print and screen primary, which makes it ideal for accents, gradients, and neon-style branding but overwhelming as a large flat fill. Use it where you want a fresh, technical, slightly futuristic energy.
Deep and dark cyans
The darkest end grounds into teal. Dark Cyan (#008B8B), Teal (#008080), Deep Cyan (#006666), Midnight Cyan (#004B49), and Forest Cyan (#003B3B) are deep, muted blue-greens with real sophistication. Teal at #008080 is the CSS named color that anchors this group, a balanced deep cyan that reads as calm, professional, and timeless. These dark cyans work beautifully as primary brand colors and anchors because they carry cyan’s freshness without its glare. For exactly where cyan tips into teal, see cyan vs teal.
Sky and soft cyans
Lighten cyan and it turns airy. Robin Egg (#00CCCC), Sky Cyan (#80DEEA), Pale Cyan (#AFEEEE), Mint Cyan (#A0E7E5), and Medium Cyan (#48D1CC) are the soft, pale blue-greens of clear skies and robin’s eggs. These gentle cyans read as clean, calming, and refreshing, which is why they dominate healthcare, spa, and wellness branding. They pair beautifully with white, soft coral, and warm sand for a light, breezy palette, and they make excellent background tones that keep an interface feeling open and airy.
Green and blue-leaning cyans
Cyan straddles two families, so it tips both ways. Toward green you get Aquamarine (#7FFFD4), Turquoise Cyan (#40E0D0), Spring Cyan (#00FFEF), and Vivid Cyan (#2EE6D6), which read as tropical, watery, and lively. Toward blue you get Cyan Blue (#00B7EB), Bondi Cyan (#0095B6), and Pacific Cyan (#22CCDD), which read as oceanic and deep. The muted Cadet Cyan (#5F9EA0) sits in the grayed middle, a versatile, understated blue-green for calm, mature palettes.
Choosing the right cyan shade
Pick a cyan by the feeling you want it to carry. For a fresh, technical, futuristic accent, reach for the electric cyans; for a calm, professional brand color, reach for the deep teal-cyans; for a clean, airy surface, reach for the sky and pastel cyans; and for a tropical or oceanic mood, reach for the green or blue-leaning variants. The main pitfall is that pure electric cyan vibrates and can feel sterile at large sizes, so pair it with warm neutrals and reserve the neon for accents. Keep your cyans coordinated so a green-leaning aquamarine and a blue-leaning Bondi cyan do not pull the palette in two directions. A dependable formula is a deep teal-cyan anchor, one bright cyan accent, and white or pale cyan for backgrounds.
Most popular shades of cyan
The cyans most people name and use are Cyan (#00FFFF) as the electric baseline, Dark Cyan (#008B8B) for a deep muted option, Teal (#008080) for a balanced blue-green anchor, Robin Egg (#00CCCC) for a soft sky tone, and Aquamarine (#7FFFD4) for a green-leaning tint. Together they cover neon through deep to pale, which is why they anchor most fresh, clean, technical palettes.
How to use shades of cyan in design
Cyan signals freshness, clarity, and technology, so it brightens palettes that need a clean, modern energy. Use electric cyans like Cyan and Electric Cyan sparingly as accents, links, and interactive states; use deep cyans like Teal and Dark Cyan as primary brand colors and anchors; and use sky cyans like Robin Egg and Pale Cyan for backgrounds and supportive fills. Cyan pairs beautifully with white, charcoal, coral, warm sand, and soft pink, where a warm accent balances its coolness. The main risk is that pure electric cyan vibrates and feels harsh at scale, and it can read as sterile, so temper it with neutrals and warm tones. A reliable approach uses a deep teal-cyan as the anchor, a single bright cyan as the accent, and white or pale cyan for backgrounds. Because cyan reads as fresh and trustworthy, it suits healthcare, tech, and travel brands particularly well, keeping a layout feeling clean, open, and modern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for cyan?
The hex code for cyan is #00FFFF (RGB 0, 255, 255), a maximum-bright blue-green. “Aqua” is the identical color with the same hex. For a deep, muted version use Dark Cyan (#008B8B) or Teal (#008080), and for a soft sky tone use Robin Egg (#00CCCC).
What is the difference between cyan and teal?
Cyan (#00FFFF) is a bright, fully saturated blue-green that glows on screen, while teal (#008080) is a much darker, muted version of the same hue. Cyan is electric and fresh; teal is deep, calm, and sophisticated. Teal is essentially a dark, desaturated cyan suited to anchoring palettes.
How many shades of cyan are there?
Cyan variations are effectively limitless because cyan spans the green-to-blue band, but designers typically reference 20 to 30 named shades. This list includes 24 of the most recognized, from electric neon cyans through deep teal anchors to soft sky tones and green or blue-leaning variants.
What colors go well with cyan?
Cyan pairs naturally with white, charcoal, coral, and warm sand, where a warm accent balances its coolness. For high contrast, combine cyan with magenta, orange, or red. Softer sky cyans also work alongside blush pink and pale gray for a clean, refreshing scheme.
