Olive green color: code #808000

Olive green

#808000

Color codes

  • HEX#808000
  • RGBrgb(128, 128, 0)
  • HSLhsl(60, 100%, 25%)
  • HSVhsv(60, 100%, 50%)
  • CMYKcmyk(0%, 0%, 100%, 50%)
  • LABlab(51.9% -12.9 56.7)
  • OKLCHoklch(58.1% 0.127 109.8)

About the color Olive green

Olive green has the HEX code #808000, which corresponds to rgb(128, 128, 0) in the RGB model. On the color wheel its hue sits at 60°, with 100% saturation and 25% lightness (hsl(60, 100%, 25%)).

Because of its hue it reads as a warm color: it tends to feel energetic and close, and it visually “advances” in a composition.

As a background it calls for dark text: black reaches a 5.00:1 contrast ratio on it, versus 4.19:1 for white.

For print, the approximate conversion is cmyk(0%, 0%, 100%, 50%). Always confirm with your printer’s color profile, because the result depends on paper and ink.

Lighter tints

Darker shades

Color combinations with Olive green

Complementary

#808000 · #000080

Analogous

#804000 · #808000 · #408000

Triadic

#808000 · #008080 · #800080

Tetradic

#808000 · #008040 · #000080 · #800040

Split-complementary

#808000 · #004080 · #400080

Monochromatic

#000000 · #4D4D00 · #808000 · #CCCC00 · #FFFF1A

Olive green with white and black text

White text Aa Bb Cc 123
4.19:1 · large text only
Black text Aa Bb Cc 123
5.00:1 · AA

Test other pairs in the contrast checker

Where it comes from and what it says

The name comes from the unripe olive, and the reference HEX, #808000, is exactly that: red and green at the same mid intensity, with no blue. In practice it is a darkened yellow, which is why it feels warm and earthy rather than grassy. The most common reading is nature, the countryside and craft; in a Mediterranean context it brings olive groves and olive oil to mind. It also carries a military association, since similar shades were used in uniforms. As always, meaning shifts with culture and surroundings.

Olive green or army green?

Clothing stores mix these two up constantly. The difference is measurable:

If you are matching chinos to a utility jacket, photograph both pieces in daylight and compare the codes with the image color picker.

Recommended pairings

ColorHEXResult
Terracotta#E2725BAn earthy palette, popular in boho and Southwestern interiors.
Off-white#FAF9F6Makes olive look clean and modern, great for websites and packaging.
Mustard#FFDB58An analogous neighbor that creates a fall, retro look.
Navy blue#000080A sober, classic contrast in menswear and womenswear.

Tip: text, screen and paper

With white text, #808000 reaches about 4.2:1: it passes as large text (the WCAG 3:1 minimum) but not as body text (4.5:1). Black comes in around 5:1 and passes. For buttons, darken the olive or use a black label. More in the contrast and accessibility guide.

For print, a straight conversion gives C0 M0 Y100 K50. Because it leans so heavily on yellow, small shifts in ink and paper change the shade noticeably, so ask for a proof before the full run.

In dark mode, pure olive looks muddy on near-black backgrounds. Lighten it toward a softer, more yellow tone so labels and icons stay readable.

How to use it in CSS

:root {
  --color-olive-green: #808000;
  --color-olive-green-rgb: 128, 128, 0;
}

.elemento {
  background-color: var(--color-olive-green);
  color: #000000;
}

Similar colors

Use Olive green in our tools