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Green Yellow vs Sage Green: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Green Yellow and Sage Green is brightness and saturation: both are yellow-green shades, but they share similar brightness and Green Yellow is more saturated. Green Yellow (#ADFF2F) has an HSL of 84°, 100%, 59%, whereas Sage Green (#9CAF88) sits at 89°, 20%, 61%.

Green Yellow#ADFF2F
Sage Green#9CAF88
#ADFF2FBlended: #A5D75C#9CAF88

Green Yellow vs Sage Green: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Green Yellow Sage Green
BrightnessMedium (L=59%) — balanced, versatileLight (L=61%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingMuted (S=20%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyYellow-greenYellow-green
TemperatureCool-leaningCool-leaning
Hex code#ADFF2F#9CAF88
RGB173, 255, 47156, 175, 136

Can you use Green Yellow and Sage Green together?

Sage Green text on Green Yellow
Green Yellow text on Sage Green
Contrast Ratio:1.92:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Green Yellow and Sage Green Apart

  • Check saturation: Green Yellow looks more vivid and saturated.
  • Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Green Yellow vs Sage Green in Design

Use Green Yellow for:
Fresh, natural, organic brands
Spring and growth themes
Juice and produce packaging
Eco-conscious products
Wellness and lifestyle
Use Sage Green for:
Fresh, natural, organic brands
Spring and growth themes
Juice and produce packaging
Eco-conscious products
Wellness and lifestyle

Green Yellow and Sage Green Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Green Yellow#ADFF2F

Green Yellow (#ADFF2F) is a medium, vivid yellow-green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Sage Green#9CAF88

Sage Green (#9CAF88) is a light, muted yellow-green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Green Yellow and Sage 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
Green Yellow text on white
1.23:1Fail
Sample text preview
Green Yellow text on black
17.12:1AAA
Sample text preview
Sage Green text on white
2.36:1Fail
Sample text preview
Sage Green text on black
8.9:1AAA
Sample text preview
Green Yellow text on Sage Green
1.92:1Fail
Sample text preview
Sage Green text on Green Yellow
1.92:1Fail

Explore Green Yellow and Sage Green individually

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

Sage Green color page#9CAF88 · shades, tints, pairings

More Green Yellow and Sage Green Comparisons

Green Yellow vs Sage Green FAQ

What is the difference between green yellow and sage green?+
The main difference between Green Yellow and Sage Green is brightness and saturation: both are yellow-green shades, but they share similar brightness and Green Yellow is more saturated. Green Yellow (#ADFF2F) has an HSL of 84°, 100%, 59%, whereas Sage Green (#9CAF88) sits at 89°, 20%, 61%.
Is green yellow darker than sage green?+
No, they're nearly the same brightness. Green Yellow sits at 59% lightness and Sage Green at 61% — the difference is only 2 percentage points.
Are green yellow and sage green the same color?+
No. Green Yellow is #ADFF2F and Sage Green is #9CAF88. They differ by 5° in hue, 2% in lightness, and 80% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, green yellow or sage green?+
Green Yellow is more saturated. In HSL, Green Yellow has 100% saturation and Sage Green has 20% — Green Yellow is the more vivid of the two, while Sage Green reads as more muted.
Is green yellow warm or cool?+
Green Yellow (#ADFF2F) is a cool-leaning yellow-green. Its hue sits at 84° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Is sage green warm or cool?+
Sage Green (#9CAF88) is a cool-leaning yellow-green. Its hue sits at 89° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Can you use green yellow and sage green together?+
Yes. Both green yellow and sage green are yellow-green shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use green yellow as the dominant color and sage green as the accent or highlight.
What color family does green yellow belong to?+
Green Yellow belongs to the yellow-green family. Its HSL is 84°, 100%, 59% — a cool-leaning tone within the broader yellow-green group.
What is the hex code for green yellow?+
The hex code for Green Yellow is #ADFF2F. In RGB, that's rgb(173, 255, 47), and in HSL it's hsl(84, 100%, 59%).
What is the hex code for sage green?+
The hex code for Sage Green is #9CAF88. In RGB, that's rgb(156, 175, 136), and in HSL it's hsl(89, 20%, 61%).