Shades of Green: Names and Hex Codes
There are dozens of recognized shades of green, spanning fresh mints, deep forest tones, earthy olives, and bright limes. 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 what the color green means when you need the symbolism behind the swatch.
A quick note on terminology, because it matters when you specify color precisely. A shade technically means a hue mixed with black (darker), a tint is a hue mixed with white (lighter), and a tone is a hue mixed with gray (more muted). In everyday design language — and throughout this guide — “shades of green” is used loosely to mean every named variation of green, whether it is a light tint like pale green, a deep shade like forest green, or a muted tone like sage. Green also has unusually wide range because it sits at the center of the visible spectrum, where the eye is most sensitive, so it absorbs both yellow and blue neighbors readily. The hex codes below are established web, X11, and common pigment values you can copy straight into your tools.
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 take red, green, and blue channels separately), and a short note on the mood and best use of that shade. For print, convert the hex value to CMYK or Pantone in your design software and check a physical proof — vivid greens like emerald and lime often print noticeably duller than they look on a backlit screen.
Light shades of green
Light greens feel fresh, clean, and natural — ideal for backgrounds, health brands, and pastel palettes.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Green | #98FB98 | 152, 251, 152 | Soft, airy tint; gentle backgrounds. |
| Light Green | #90EE90 | 144, 238, 144 | Web-standard light green; fresh fills. |
| Tea Green | #BDECB6 | 189, 236, 182 | Muted pastel; organic, calming. |
| Mint Cream | #F5FFFA | 245, 255, 250 | Near-white green tint; page backgrounds. |
| Pear | #C7EA46 | 199, 234, 70 | Bright yellow-green; playful accents. |
| Celadon | #ACE1AF | 172, 225, 175 | Soft grayish green; ceramic, elegant. |
Dark shades of green
Dark greens signal nature, wealth, and stability — the default for luxury, finance, and heritage brands.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Green | #228B22 | 34, 139, 34 | Deep natural green; outdoor, heritage. |
| Dark Green | #006400 | 0, 100, 0 | Web-standard deep green; rich and grounded. |
| British Racing Green | #013220 | 1, 50, 32 | Near-black green; luxury, automotive. |
| Hunter Green | #355E3B | 53, 94, 59 | Muted deep green; classic, masculine. |
| Sea Green | #2E8B57 | 46, 139, 87 | Blue-leaning deep green; calm, coastal. |
| Pine Green | #0B6623 | 11, 102, 35 | Rich evergreen; festive, natural. |
Bright and emerald greens
Saturated greens lead a palette with energy and freshness — strong for tech, growth, and eco branding.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald | #50C878 | 80, 200, 120 | Vivid jewel green; luxury, vibrant. |
| Green (Primary) | #00FF00 | 0, 255, 0 | Pure RGB green; max saturation, use sparingly. |
| Green (Web) | #008000 | 0, 128, 0 | CSS named green; balanced mid-green. |
| Neon Green | #39FF14 | 57, 255, 20 | Electric highlight; digital, high-energy. |
| Jade | #00A86B | 0, 168, 107 | Rich blue-green; premium, calming. |
| Fern Green | #4F7942 | 79, 121, 66 | Muted leaf green; natural, grounded. |
Yellow-green and lime shades
When green tips toward yellow you get limes, chartreuses, and olives — fresh and zesty, or earthy and muted.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lime Green | #32CD32 | 50, 205, 50 | Bright zesty green; energetic accents. |
| Chartreuse | #7FFF00 | 127, 255, 0 | Yellow-green; bold, attention-grabbing. |
| Olive | #808000 | 128, 128, 0 | Earthy muted green; military, vintage. |
| Olive Drab | #6B8E23 | 107, 142, 35 | Darker olive; rugged, utilitarian. |
| Yellow Green | #9ACD32 | 154, 205, 50 | Spring-leaf green; fresh, lively. |
| Dark Khaki | #BDB76B | 189, 183, 107 | Muted gold-green; earthy neutral. |
Muted, sage, and blue-green shades
Desaturated and cool greens feel calm and contemporary — the backbone of modern interior and brand palettes.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sage | #9CAF88 | 156, 175, 136 | Soft grayish green; calm, trending. |
| Mint | #3EB489 | 62, 180, 137 | Cool fresh blue-green; clean, modern. |
| Spring Green | #00FA9A | 0, 250, 154 | Bright blue-green; vivid, fresh. |
| Dark Sea Green | #8FBC8F | 143, 188, 143 | Muted soft green; gentle, natural. |
| Rifle Green | #2A3C24 | 42, 60, 36 | Dark muted green; military, understated. |
What are the most popular shades of green?
The most-used named greens in design are emerald, sage, forest green, mint, and olive. Emerald brings jewel-like luxury; sage has become the defining neutral green of recent interior and brand trends; forest green anchors heritage and outdoor identities; mint feels clean and modern; olive grounds earthy, vintage palettes. If you are choosing between the two trendiest soft greens, see our comparison of sage vs mint.
Green’s symbolic flexibility is what makes it so widely used. It is the color most strongly tied to nature, growth, and renewal, which is why it dominates organic, sustainability, and wellness branding. At the same time, deep greens like British racing green and hunter green signal old-money wealth and tradition, while bright limes and neons read as fresh, digital, and high-energy. Few hues stretch so far between “heritage” and “highlighter,” which is exactly why picking the right shade of green is the whole game.
How to use shades of green in design
Build a green palette around one anchor hue, then create depth with a lighter tint and a darker shade — for example pairing sage backgrounds with forest green text and an emerald accent. Green sits between cool and warm, so it pairs flexibly: warm it with terracotta and cream, or cool it with navy and slate.
Two practical cautions: first, mid-saturation greens around #00A86B can vibrate uncomfortably against pure red, so if you need a green-and-red palette, mute one of the two. Second, yellow-greens like chartreuse and lime are powerful accent colors but exhausting as large fills — use them on small surfaces, calls to action, or highlights rather than full backgrounds. For accessible body text, lean on dark green (#006400) or hunter green, and keep pale tints like tea green and mint cream for backgrounds. The symbolism behind these choices lives in our color psychology guide, and you can explore neighboring families in our reference on shades of blue and shades of orange.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many shades of green are there?
There is no fixed number — the human eye is most sensitive to green and can distinguish more green gradations than any other hue. In practical design terms, roughly 30 to 40 named shades of green are widely recognized, from pale and mint through emerald, forest, olive, and hunter green.
What is the hex code for sage green?
A widely used hex code for sage green is #9CAF88, which is RGB 156, 175, 136. Sage is a muted, grayish green, so variations range from cooler #B2AC88 to softer #BCB88A depending on the brand or paint reference you follow.
What is the difference between sage and olive green?
Sage (#9CAF88) is a soft, grayish green with a cool, dusty quality, while olive (#808000) is a darker, yellow-leaning green that reads as earthy and military. Sage feels calm and contemporary; olive feels rugged and vintage.
Which shade of green is best for a logo?
For eco and growth brands, emerald (#50C878) or a clean mint (#3EB489) feel fresh and modern. For finance, luxury, or heritage, forest green (#228B22) and hunter green (#355E3B) convey stability and wealth. Match saturation to the energy you want to project.
What colors go well with green?
Green pairs naturally with earthy neutrals (cream, tan, brown), warm terracotta, and crisp white. For contrast, use its complementary red sparingly, or pink for a fresh look. Navy, gold, and blush all complement deeper greens elegantly.
