Shades of Teal: Names and Hex Codes

This is a designer’s reference for the most useful shades of teal, with accurate hex codes, RGB values, and notes on character and use. Teal is a blue-green that balances the calm of blue with the freshness of green, and shifting that balance — more blue, more green, lighter, deeper — produces a wide and very usable family. Use the table below as a citable palette, then read on for how the shades group.

If you mix it up with its neighbor, read teal vs turquoise or cyan vs teal; and for the psychology behind blue-greens, see color psychology. For the families on either side of teal, see our shades of blue and shades of green references.

Shades of teal: full table

Shade name	Hex	RGB	Notes
Teal	#008080	0, 128, 128	The base color; balanced blue-green.
Dark Teal	#014D4E	1, 77, 78	Deep, moody blue-green.
Light Teal	#90E0EF	144, 224, 239	Pale airy blue-green; soft.
Pine	#2A5D67	42, 93, 103	Muted deep teal; natural and earthy.
Aqua	#00FFFF	0, 255, 255	Pure cyan; brightest blue-green.
Turquoise	#40E0D0	64, 224, 208	Bright gemstone blue-green.
Dark Cyan	#008B8B	0, 139, 139	CSS darkcyan; rich teal.
Light Sea Green	#20B2AA	32, 178, 170	CSS lightseagreen; vivid teal.
Cadet Blue	#5F9EA0	95, 158, 160	CSS cadetblue; muted teal-gray.
Medium Turquoise	#48D1CC	72, 209, 204	CSS mediumturquoise; bright.
Dark Turquoise	#00CED1	0, 206, 209	CSS darkturquoise; vivid cyan-teal.
Teal Blue	#367588	54, 117, 136	Blue-leaning mid teal.
Pine Teal	#006D6F	0, 109, 111	Deep saturated teal.
Blue Green	#0D98BA	13, 152, 186	Bright blue-leaning teal.
Metallic Seaweed	#0A7E8C	10, 126, 140	Muted deep blue-teal.
Verdigris	#43B3AE	67, 179, 174	Patina blue-green; antique copper.
Teal Green	#2E8B89	46, 139, 137	Green-leaning mid teal.
Deep Teal	#004B49	0, 75, 73	Very dark teal; near-black depth.
Aquamarine	#7FFFD4	127, 255, 212	CSS aquamarine; pale green-teal.
Pale Turquoise	#AFEEEE	175, 238, 238	CSS paleturquoise; very light teal.
Medium Aquamarine	#66CDAA	102, 205, 170	CSS mediumaquamarine; soft teal-green.
Persian Green	#00A693	0, 166, 147	Vivid blue-green; jewel tone.
Robin Egg Blue	#30D5C8	48, 213, 200	Bright pastel turquoise.
Midnight Teal	#0F5257	15, 82, 87	Deep muted teal; sophisticated.
Mint Teal	#88D8C0	136, 216, 192	Soft pastel green-teal.
Spruce	#005F5F	0, 95, 95	Dark balanced teal; forest depth.

Deep, dark teals

The richest teals — Dark Teal (#014D4E), Deep Teal (#004B49), Pine (#2A5D67), Midnight Teal (#0F5257), Pine Teal (#006D6F), and Spruce (#005F5F) — behave almost like sophisticated neutrals. They are deep enough to anchor a palette in place of navy or charcoal while adding a distinctive jewel-tone character, which makes them popular in luxury and editorial branding. A deep teal feels more individual than navy without sacrificing its calm authority, so brands that want to stand out from a sea of blue often land here. Pine and Spruce carry a slight green muting that reads as natural and outdoorsy, while Dark Teal and Midnight Teal stay closer to the blue side for a cooler, more formal effect.

True, balanced teals

The core of the family is Teal (#008080) itself, alongside Dark Cyan (#008B8B), Teal Blue (#367588), Cadet Blue (#5F9EA0), and Teal Green (#2E8B89). These sit at the even balance of blue and green and are the most versatile — confident enough to be a primary brand color, calm enough to use across large areas. Teal Blue tips toward blue for a more corporate, trustworthy read, while Teal Green tips toward green for freshness; keeping both in a palette gives you a flexible mid-tone range. Cadet Blue is the muted, slightly grayed member, which makes it useful when you want teal’s character without its full saturation.

Bright aquas and turquoises

Aqua (#00FFFF), Turquoise (#40E0D0), Dark Turquoise (#00CED1), Medium Turquoise (#48D1CC), and Robin Egg Blue (#30D5C8) are the vivid, energetic members. They read as fresh, tropical, and digital — great for accents, highlights, and anything that needs a jolt of brightness. Aqua is pure cyan (one of the additive primaries of light), so it vibrates at large scale and is best used sparingly, ideally as a small accent against a deep teal or charcoal. Turquoise and Robin Egg Blue carry a pastel softness that keeps them lively without becoming harsh, which is why they dominate beach, travel, and summer palettes.

Soft, pale teals

The light tints — Light Teal (#90E0EF), Pale Turquoise (#AFEEEE), Aquamarine (#7FFFD4), Mint Teal (#88D8C0), and Medium Aquamarine (#66CDAA) — feel airy, clean, and calming. They make excellent backgrounds and gentle accents, evoking water, spa, and wellness palettes. Because they are desaturated and light, dark teal or charcoal text sits comfortably on top of them, so they work as full-page backgrounds where a brighter turquoise would be too intense. Pairing a pale teal background with a deep teal accent creates a monochromatic palette that feels effortlessly coordinated.

Teal vs its neighbors

Teal sits in a crowded part of the color wheel, which is why it is so often confused with its neighbors. Turquoise (#40E0D0) is brighter and more saturated, leaning toward a gemstone aqua. Cyan and pure Aqua (#00FFFF) are lighter and more electric, since cyan is a primary of light rather than a mixed hue. Verdigris (#43B3AE) and Persian Green (#00A693) push toward green and read as patina or jewel tones. True teal (#008080), by contrast, is the deepest and most balanced of the group — subdued where the others are vivid. Knowing where a shade falls on this spectrum helps you pick the right one: choose a deep teal for authority, a turquoise for energy, and an aqua for a bright digital accent. The teal vs turquoise and cyan vs teal comparisons break these distinctions down in detail.

Most popular shades of teal

The teals people name and use most are Teal (#008080) as the balanced base, Dark Teal (#014D4E) for depth, Turquoise (#40E0D0) for brightness, Light Teal (#90E0EF) for a soft tint, and Aqua (#00FFFF) for maximum vibrancy. Together they span deep to bright and muted to vivid.

How to use shades of teal in design

Teal is one of the most balanced colors available — it carries blue’s trustworthiness and green’s freshness, which is why it reads as both calm and modern. Use deep teals as a sophisticated alternative to navy for primary brand color, true teal for confident mid-tone areas, and bright turquoises only as accents to avoid overwhelming a layout. Teal pairs beautifully with warm contrasts — coral, terracotta, mustard, and gold — which sit opposite it and make both colors sing. For accessibility, deep teals provide strong contrast against white and make reliable text colors. For more on how blue-greens affect mood, see the linked color psychology guide above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for teal?

The standard hex code for teal is #008080 (RGB 0, 128, 128), an evenly balanced blue-green and one of the original CSS named colors. Darker teals run toward #014D4E, while lighter ones reach #90E0EF. The #008080 value is the canonical reference point for the color.

What is the difference between teal and turquoise?

Teal (#008080) is a deeper, more subdued blue-green, while turquoise (#40E0D0) is brighter and leans toward a vivid gemstone aqua. Teal feels grounded and sophisticated; turquoise feels energetic and tropical. Both sit between blue and green, but turquoise is lighter and more saturated.

Is teal more blue or more green?

True teal (#008080) is an even split between blue and green, sitting exactly at cyan’s neighborhood on the color wheel. Individual shades shift the balance: teal blue leans blue, while teal green leans green. The base color is intentionally balanced, which is why it reads as a distinct hue rather than simply a blue or a green.

How many shades of teal are there?

Because teal spans the blue-green range with countless variations in lightness and saturation, the practical set is large. Designers usually reference 20 to 30 named shades. This list includes 26, spanning deep pines, balanced teals, bright turquoises, and pale aquas.