Turquoise color: code #40E0D0

Turquoise

#40E0D0

Color codes

  • HEX#40E0D0
  • RGBrgb(64, 224, 208)
  • HSLhsl(174, 72%, 56%)
  • HSVhsv(174, 71%, 88%)
  • CMYKcmyk(71%, 0%, 7%, 12%)
  • LABlab(81.3% -44.1 -4)
  • OKLCHoklch(82.2% 0.131 185.1)

About the color Turquoise

Turquoise has the HEX code #40E0D0, which corresponds to rgb(64, 224, 208) in the RGB model. On the color wheel its hue sits at 174°, with 72% saturation and 56% lightness (hsl(174, 72%, 56%)).

Because of its hue it reads as a cool color: it tends to feel calm and distant, and it visually “recedes” in a composition.

As a background it calls for dark text: black reaches a 12.79:1 contrast ratio on it, versus 1.64:1 for white.

For print, the approximate conversion is cmyk(71%, 0%, 7%, 12%). Always confirm with your printer’s color profile, because the result depends on paper and ink.

Lighter tints

Darker shades

Color combinations with Turquoise

Complementary

#40E0D0 · #E03E4E

Analogous

#3EE07F · #40E0D0 · #3E9FE0

Triadic

#40E0D0 · #CF3EE0 · #E0CF3E

Tetradic

#40E0D0 · #7F3EE0 · #E03E4E · #9FE03E

Split-complementary

#40E0D0 · #E03E9F · #E07F3E

Monochromatic

#16887D · #21CAB9 · #40E0D0 · #80EAE0 · #C2F5F0

Turquoise with white and black text

White text Aa Bb Cc 123
1.64:1 · fails WCAG
Black text Aa Bb Cc 123
12.79:1 · AAA

Test other pairs in the contrast checker

Meaning and perception

Turquoise takes its name from the gemstone Europeans first received through trade routes linked to Turkey, and it still carries that connection to jewelry, water and warm places. For many people in the US, it instantly suggests tropical beaches, swimming pools and Southwestern silver-and-turquoise jewelry. In other cultures the stone has protective or ceremonial value, and in a corporate setting the same hue can simply read as fresh and techy. Like every color association, this depends on culture, era and context; the color psychology guide explains why no color has one universal meaning.

Where turquoise works well

What colors go with turquoise

Turquoise sits near 174° on the color wheel, so its complement lands in the coral and red-orange range. A few reliable pairings:

To explore variations, build a color palette starting from #40E0D0.

Practical tip: text on turquoise

Turquoise is a light color in terms of luminance. White text on #40E0D0 comes in around 1.6:1, far below the WCAG minimum of 4.5:1 for body text, while black text exceeds 12:1. If your brand calls for a turquoise button, use a black or petrol-blue label, or darken the background. Check any pair with the contrast checker.

In dark mode, pure turquoise can look harsh against near-black backgrounds; pulling the saturation or lightness down slightly makes it easier on the eyes.

How to use it in CSS

:root {
  --color-turquoise: #40E0D0;
  --color-turquoise-rgb: 64, 224, 208;
}

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

Similar colors

Use Turquoise in our tools