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Lime vs Emerald Green: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Lime and Emerald Green is brightness and saturation: both are green shades, but Emerald Green is lighter and Lime is more saturated. Lime (#00FF00) has an HSL of 120°, 100%, 50%, whereas Emerald Green (#50C878) sits at 140°, 52%, 55%.

Lime#00FF00
Emerald Green#50C878
#00FF00Blended: #28E43C#50C878
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Lime vs Emerald Green: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Lime Emerald Green
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileMedium (L=55%) — balanced, versatile
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingModerately saturated (S=52%) — balanced in intensity
Hue familyGreenGreen
TemperatureCool-leaningCool-leaning
Hex code#00FF00#50C878
RGB0, 255, 080, 200, 120

Can you use Lime and Emerald Green together?

Emerald Green text on Lime
Lime text on Emerald Green
Contrast Ratio:1.55:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Lime and Emerald Green Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Lime 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.

Lime or Emerald Green: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickLime

Lime is more saturated (100% HSL vs 52%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Emerald Green can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickEmerald Green

Emerald Green hits a 2.13:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Lime only reaches 1.37:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickEmerald Green

Emerald Green is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Lime leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickEmerald Green

Emerald Green is the more muted of the two (52% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Lime's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Lime vs Emerald Green in Design

Use Lime 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

Lime and Emerald Green Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Lime#00FF00

Lime (#00FF00) is a medium, vivid green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
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
Shades
Tints

Lime 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
Lime text on white
1.37:1Fail
Sample text preview
Lime text on black
15.3:1AAA
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
Lime text on Emerald Green
1.55:1Fail
Sample text preview
Emerald Green text on Lime
1.55:1Fail

Explore Lime and Emerald Green individually

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

Lime color page#00FF00 · shades, tints, pairingsEmerald Green color page#50C878 · shades, tints, pairings

More Lime and Emerald Green Comparisons

MintvsLimeLimevsNavyEmerald GreenvsSeafoamLemonvsLimeMint GreenvsEmerald GreenGreenvsLimeSpring GreenvsEmerald GreenLimevsCoralForest GreenvsEmerald GreenLimevsPurpleMedium Sea GreenvsEmerald GreenSeafoamvsLime

Lime vs Emerald Green FAQ

What is the difference between lime and emerald green?+
The main difference between Lime and Emerald Green is brightness and saturation: both are green shades, but Emerald Green is lighter and Lime is more saturated. Lime (#00FF00) has an HSL of 120°, 100%, 50%, whereas Emerald Green (#50C878) sits at 140°, 52%, 55%.
Is lime darker than emerald green?+
Yes. Lime is darker, with a lightness of 50% in HSL compared to Emerald Green at 55% — a 5-point gap.
Are lime and emerald green the same color?+
No. Lime is #00FF00 and Emerald Green is #50C878. They differ by 20° in hue, 5% in lightness, and 48% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, lime or emerald green?+
Lime is more saturated. In HSL, Lime has 100% saturation and Emerald Green has 52% — Lime is the more vivid of the two, while Emerald Green reads as more muted.
Is lime warm or cool?+
Lime (#00FF00) 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 lime and emerald green together?+
Yes. Both lime and emerald green are green shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use lime as the dominant color and emerald green as the accent or highlight.
What color family does lime belong to?+
Lime belongs to the green family. Its HSL is 120°, 100%, 50% — a cool-leaning tone within the broader green group.
What is the hex code for lime?+
The hex code for Lime is #00FF00. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 255, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(120, 100%, 50%).
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%).