Shades of Olive: Names and Hex Codes
There are many recognized shades of olive, from the muted yellow-green classic to military drabs and soft sage-adjacent mosses. 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 olive sits in a muted green-yellow zone that overlaps with sage and army green. Olive — the web standard is #808000 — is a dark, grayish yellow-green named after the unripe fruit. Sage is lighter and grayer, army green is darker and more neutral, and the lines blur. If you need those distinctions, see our comparisons of sage vs olive green and olive vs army green. Throughout this guide, “shades of olive” covers every named variation in that earthy 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 proof carefully — muted yellow-greens can drift toward brown or gray depending on stock and lighting.
Classic and true olives
These are the core olives most people picture — muted yellow-greens used in fashion, heritage, and earthy natural branding.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive | #808000 | 128, 128, 0 | Web-standard muted yellow-green; earthy, classic. |
| Olive Green | #BAB86C | 186, 184, 108 | Lighter muted olive; soft, natural. |
| Olivine | #9AB973 | 154, 185, 115 | Fresh yellow-green olive; lively, organic. |
| Olive Yellow | #B5B35C | 181, 179, 92 | Warm yellow-olive; bright, earthy. |
| Mid Olive | #867E36 | 134, 126, 54 | Balanced muted olive; grounded, refined. |
| Olive Leaf | #708238 | 112, 130, 56 | Natural green-olive; fresh, botanical. |
Drab and military olives
The neutral, desaturated olives of uniforms and utility wear — rugged, functional, and grounded.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Drab | #6B8E23 | 107, 142, 35 | Web-standard military olive; rugged, classic. |
| Army Green | #4B5320 | 75, 83, 32 | Dark military olive; utilitarian, grounded. |
| Dark Olive Green | #556B2F | 85, 107, 47 | Web-standard deep olive; rich, natural. |
| Field Drab | #544F3A | 84, 79, 58 | Brown-olive drab; muted, vintage utility. |
| Olive Black | #3C341F | 60, 52, 31 | Near-black olive; deep, moody, grounded. |
| Camo Olive | #5B5B2A | 91, 91, 42 | Muted khaki-olive; tactical, rugged. |
Moss and sage-leaning olives
Softer, grayer olives that drift toward moss and sage — calming, organic, and increasingly popular in modern interiors.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moss | #8A9A5B | 138, 154, 91 | Soft green-olive; calming, natural. |
| Sage Olive | #9CAF88 | 156, 175, 136 | Muted gray-green olive; serene, modern. |
| Dark Moss | #606C38 | 96, 108, 56 | Deep green-olive; rich, botanical. |
| Pale Olive | #A3B18A | 163, 177, 138 | Soft pale olive; airy, gentle. |
| Fern Olive | #7D8C57 | 125, 140, 87 | Mid green-olive; fresh, organic. |
| Reseda Green | #6B6B47 | 107, 107, 71 | Gray-green olive; muted, vintage. |
Warm khaki and golden olives
Olives warmed by yellow and brown toward khaki and gold — sandy, sophisticated, and versatile as near-neutrals.
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes / use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Khaki | #BDB76B | 189, 183, 107 | Web-standard khaki olive; sandy, warm. |
| Khaki | #C3B091 | 195, 176, 145 | Tan-olive neutral; versatile, earthy. |
| Golden Olive | #998B53 | 153, 139, 83 | Warm gold-olive; rich, refined. |
| Mustard Olive | #827717 | 130, 119, 23 | Deep yellow-olive; bold, vintage. |
| Dark Goldenrod Olive | #B8860B | 184, 134, 11 | Web-standard gold-olive; warm, lively. |
| Bronze Olive | #766A3C | 118, 106, 60 | Deep brown-olive; grounded, antique. |
What are the most popular shades of olive?
The most-used named olives in design are olive (#808000), olive drab (#6B8E23), army green (#4B5320), moss (#8A9A5B), and dark olive green (#556B2F). Classic olive and olive drab dominate fashion, outdoor, and heritage branding; army green brings rugged utility; moss and sage olives drive the modern earthy-interior trend. Warmer khaki olives work as sophisticated near-neutrals, while deeper olives project depth and durability.
Olive’s appeal is that it reads as a grounded, natural near-neutral — green’s connection to nature without the freshness of bright greens, and a yellow warmth that makes it cozy rather than cold. That makes it a favorite for outdoor and military-inspired apparel, organic and wellness brands, and contemporary interiors where it functions almost like a colored beige. Because it spans drab military tones to soft sage-mosses, olive flexes from rugged to serene. Choosing an olive is really choosing how dark, how warm, or how gray you want that earthiness to lean.
A quirk worth flagging: the web standard olive at #808000 is markedly darker and more mustard-toned than what most people picture when they hear the word, and it surprises designers who type the CSS name expecting a softer sage. The “olive drab” of military equipment is a separate lineage again, originally a coating specification rather than a color name, which is why so many drab and field variants exist. If a client says olive, ask whether they mean the fashion sage-olive, the mustardy web olive, or the deep army drab — they are three genuinely different colors, and the swatches above let you point at the exact one. As with all muted yellow-greens, proof on the final substrate, since olive shifts dramatically under warm versus cool lighting.
How to use shades of olive in design
Olive is one of the most versatile near-neutrals in design. Pair classic olive or soft moss with cream, tan, and rust for a warm, earthy palette, or with charcoal and white for a modern, grounded look. Olive’s complement is a muted purple or burgundy, which is why those rich wine tones look so good against it.
Practical guidance: olive works as a colored neutral, so you can use it for large areas the way you would gray or beige. Deeper olives like dark olive green (#556B2F) and army green stay readable as type on light backgrounds, while pale and khaki olives are best for backgrounds and fills. To keep olive from feeling drab, add a warm accent — rust, mustard, or terracotta — or a touch of brass. Olive pairs especially well with deep reds; see our references on shades of burgundy and shades of maroon for that grounded, sophisticated combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for olive?
The standard web and X11 hex code for olive is #808000, which is RGB 128, 128, 0. It is a dark, grayish yellow-green named after the unripe fruit. Related web values include dark olive green (#556B2F) and olive drab (#6B8E23).
What is the difference between olive and sage?
Olive (#808000) is a darker, more saturated yellow-green, while sage is a lighter, grayer, softer green with more white mixed in. Olive feels earthy and rugged; sage feels calm and muted. See our full sage vs olive green comparison for examples.
What is the difference between olive and army green?
Olive (#808000) is brighter and more yellow-green, while army green (#4B5320) is darker, more neutral, and more brown-tinted. Olive reads as a fashion and natural tone; army green reads as utilitarian and military. See our olive vs army green comparison.
Which shade of olive is best for a brand?
For earthy, natural branding, classic olive (#808000) or moss (#8A9A5B) work beautifully. For rugged outdoor identities, olive drab (#6B8E23) or army green (#4B5320) convey durability. For a soft modern look, sage olive (#9CAF88) reads calm and contemporary.
What colors go well with olive?
Olive pairs beautifully with cream, tan, and rust for a warm earthy palette, and with burgundy or plum — its near-complement — for a rich, sophisticated contrast. Charcoal and white modernize it, while mustard and terracotta add warmth and life.
