Lime vs Forest Green: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Lime and Forest Green is brightness and saturation: both are green shades, but Lime is lighter and Lime is more saturated. Lime (#00FF00) has an HSL of 120°, 100%, 50%, whereas Forest Green (#228B22) sits at 120°, 61%, 34%.

Lime#00FF00

Forest Green#228B22

#00FF00Blended: #11C511#228B22

Lime vs Forest Green: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Lime Forest Green

BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileDark (L=34%) — rich, serious, substantial

SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingModerately saturated (S=61%) — balanced in intensity

Hue familyGreenGreen

TemperatureCool-leaningCool-leaning

Hex code#00FF00#228B22

RGB0, 255, 034, 139, 34

Can you use Lime and Forest Green together?

Forest Green text on Lime

Lime text on Forest Green

Contrast Ratio:3.20:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Lime and Forest Green Apart

●Look at lightness first: Lime is noticeably lighter.
●Check saturation: Lime 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 Lime vs Forest 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 Forest Green for:

●Eco, nature, wellness brands

●Finance, success, growth

●Go-states and confirmations

●Food and garden products

●Calm, grounded UI surfaces

Lime and Forest 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

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

Shades

Tints

Lime and Forest 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

Forest Green text on white

4.39:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Forest Green text on black

4.78:1AA

Sample text preview

Lime text on Forest Green

3.2:1AA Large

Sample text preview

Forest Green text on Lime

3.2:1AA Large

Explore Lime and Forest Green individually

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

Lime color page#00FF00 · shades, tints, pairings Forest Green color page#228B22 · shades, tints, pairings

More Lime and Forest Green Comparisons

Lime vs Forest Green FAQ

What is the difference between lime and forest green?+

The main difference between Lime and Forest Green is brightness and saturation: both are green shades, but Lime is lighter and Lime is more saturated. Lime (#00FF00) has an HSL of 120°, 100%, 50%, whereas Forest Green (#228B22) sits at 120°, 61%, 34%.

Is lime darker than forest green?+

No. Forest Green is the darker of the two at 34% lightness, while Lime sits higher at 50%.

Are lime and forest green the same color?+

No. Lime is #00FF00 and Forest Green is #228B22. They differ by 0° in hue, 16% in lightness, and 39% in saturation.

Which is more saturated, lime or forest green?+

Lime is more saturated. In HSL, Lime has 100% saturation and Forest Green has 61% — Lime is the more vivid of the two, while Forest 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 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.

Can you use lime and forest green together?+

Yes. Both lime and forest green are green shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use forest green as the dominant color and lime 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 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%).