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Forest Green vs Emerald Green: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Forest Green and Emerald Green is brightness and saturation: both are green shades, but Emerald Green is lighter and Forest Green is more saturated. Forest Green (#228B22) has an HSL of 120°, 61%, 34%, whereas Emerald Green (#50C878) sits at 140°, 52%, 55%.

Forest Green#228B22
Emerald Green#50C878
#228B22Blended: #39AA4D#50C878

Forest Green vs Emerald Green: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Forest Green Emerald Green
BrightnessDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantialMedium (L=55%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationModerately saturated (S=61%) — balanced in intensityModerately saturated (S=52%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyGreenGreen
TemperatureCool-leaningCool-leaning
Hex code#228B22#50C878
RGB34, 139, 3480, 200, 120

Can you use Forest Green and Emerald Green together?

Emerald Green text on Forest Green
Forest Green text on Emerald Green
Contrast Ratio:2.06:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Forest Green and Emerald Green Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Emerald Green is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Forest Green looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 20° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Forest Green vs Emerald Green in Design

Use Forest Green for:
●Eco, nature, wellness brands
●Finance, success, growth
●Go-states and confirmations
●Food and garden products
●Calm, grounded UI surfaces
Use Emerald Green for:
●Eco, nature, wellness brands
●Finance, success, growth
●Go-states and confirmations
●Food and garden products
●Calm, grounded UI surfaces

Forest Green and Emerald Green Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Forest Green#228B22

Forest Green (#228B22) is a dark, moderately saturated green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Tints
Emerald Green#50C878

Emerald Green (#50C878) is a medium, moderately saturated green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Forest Green and Emerald Green WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview
Forest Green text on white
4.39:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Forest Green text on black
4.78:1AA
Sample text preview
Emerald Green text on white
2.13:1Fail
Sample text preview
Emerald Green text on black
9.87:1AAA
Sample text preview
Forest Green text on Emerald Green
2.06:1Fail
Sample text preview
Emerald Green text on Forest Green
2.06:1Fail

Explore Forest Green and Emerald Green individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Forest Green color page#228B22 · shades, tints, pairingsEmerald Green color page#50C878 · shades, tints, pairings

More Forest Green and Emerald Green Comparisons

Forest GreenvsPineLimevsEmerald GreenPinevsForest GreenEmerald GreenvsSeafoamNavyvsForest GreenMint GreenvsEmerald GreenJadevsForest GreenSpring GreenvsEmerald GreenTealvsForest GreenGoldvsForest GreenMedium Sea GreenvsEmerald GreenLimevsForest Green

Forest Green vs Emerald Green FAQ

What is the difference between forest green and emerald green?+
The main difference between Forest Green and Emerald Green is brightness and saturation: both are green shades, but Emerald Green is lighter and Forest Green is more saturated. Forest Green (#228B22) has an HSL of 120°, 61%, 34%, whereas Emerald Green (#50C878) sits at 140°, 52%, 55%.
Is forest green darker than emerald green?+
Yes. Forest Green is darker, with a lightness of 34% in HSL compared to Emerald Green at 55% — a 21-point gap.
Are forest green and emerald green the same color?+
No. Forest Green is #228B22 and Emerald Green is #50C878. They differ by 20° in hue, 21% in lightness, and 9% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, forest green or emerald green?+
Forest Green is more saturated. In HSL, Forest Green has 61% saturation and Emerald Green has 52% — Forest Green is the more vivid of the two, while Emerald Green reads as more muted.
Is forest green warm or cool?+
Forest Green (#228B22) is a cool-leaning green. Its hue sits at 120° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Is emerald green warm or cool?+
Emerald Green (#50C878) is a cool-leaning green. Its hue sits at 140° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Can you use forest green and emerald green together?+
Yes. Both forest green and emerald green are green shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use forest green as the dominant color and emerald green as the accent or highlight.
What color family does forest green belong to?+
Forest Green belongs to the green family. Its HSL is 120°, 61%, 34% — a cool-leaning tone within the broader green group.
What is the hex code for forest green?+
The hex code for Forest Green is #228B22. In RGB, that's rgb(34, 139, 34), and in HSL it's hsl(120, 61%, 34%).
What is the hex code for emerald green?+
The hex code for Emerald Green is #50C878. In RGB, that's rgb(80, 200, 120), and in HSL it's hsl(140, 52%, 55%).