The main difference between Jade and Kelly Green is hue — Jade is a cool-leaning teal, while Kelly Green is a cool-leaning green. Jade and Kelly Green are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Jade (#00A86B) and Kelly Green (#4CBB17) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.
Jade is more saturated (100% HSL vs 78%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Kelly Green can feel washed out when printed small.
Jade hits a 3.08:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Kelly Green only reaches 2.49:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Kelly Green is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Jade leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Kelly Green is the more muted of the two (78% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Jade's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Jade (#00A86B) is a dark, vivid teal with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Kelly Green (#4CBB17) is a medium, vivid green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
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.