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

The main difference between Forest Green and Olive Green is hue — Forest Green is a cool-leaning green, while Olive Green is a cool-leaning yellow-green. Forest Green (#228B22) has an HSL of 120°, 61%, 34%, whereas Olive Green (#6B8E23) sits at 80°, 60%, 35%.

Forest Green#228B22
Olive Green#6B8E23
#228B22Blended: #478D23#6B8E23

Forest Green vs Olive Green: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Forest Green Olive Green
BrightnessDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=35%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationModerately saturated (S=61%) — balanced in intensityModerately saturated (S=60%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyGreenYellow-green
TemperatureCool-leaningCool-leaning
Hex code#228B22#6B8E23
RGB34, 139, 34107, 142, 35

Can you use Forest Green and Olive Green together?

Olive Green text on Forest Green
Forest Green text on Olive Green
Contrast Ratio:1.15:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Forest Green and Olive Green Apart

  • Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 40° 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 Olive 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 Olive Green for:
Fresh, natural, organic brands
Spring and growth themes
Juice and produce packaging
Eco-conscious products
Wellness and lifestyle

Forest Green and Olive 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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Olive Green#6B8E23

Olive Green (#6B8E23) is a dark, moderately saturated yellow-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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Forest Green and Olive 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
Olive Green text on white
3.81:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Olive Green text on black
5.52:1AA
Sample text preview
Forest Green text on Olive Green
1.15:1Fail
Sample text preview
Olive Green text on Forest Green
1.15:1Fail

Explore Forest Green and Olive Green individually

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

Forest Green color page#228B22 · shades, tints, pairingsOlive Green color page#6B8E23 · shades, tints, pairings

More Forest Green and Olive Green Comparisons

Forest Green vs Olive Green FAQ

What is the difference between forest green and olive green?+
The main difference between Forest Green and Olive Green is hue — Forest Green is a cool-leaning green, while Olive Green is a cool-leaning yellow-green. Forest Green (#228B22) has an HSL of 120°, 61%, 34%, whereas Olive Green (#6B8E23) sits at 80°, 60%, 35%.
Is forest green darker than olive green?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Forest Green sits at 34% lightness and Olive Green at 35% — the difference is only 1 percentage points.
Are forest green and olive green the same color?+
No. Forest Green is #228B22 and Olive Green is #6B8E23. They differ by 40° in hue, 1% in lightness, and 1% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, forest green or olive green?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Forest Green at 61% and Olive Green at 60% in HSL.
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 olive green warm or cool?+
Olive Green (#6B8E23) is a cool-leaning yellow-green. Its hue sits at 80° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Can you use forest green and olive green together?+
Yes. Forest Green (green) and Olive Green (yellow-green) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
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 olive green?+
The hex code for Olive Green is #6B8E23. In RGB, that's rgb(107, 142, 35), and in HSL it's hsl(80, 60%, 35%).