The main difference between Mint and Aqua is hue — Mint is a cool-leaning green, while Aqua is a cool cyan. Mint and Aqua are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Mint (#98FF98) and Aqua (#00FFFF) 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.
Mint is more saturated (100% HSL vs 100%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Aqua can feel washed out when printed small.
Aqua hits a 1.25:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Mint only reaches 1.23:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Mint is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Aqua leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Mint is the more muted of the two (100% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Aqua's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Mint (#98FF98) is a very light, vivid green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels pale, delicate, gentle and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Aqua (#00FFFF) is a medium, vivid cyan with a cool 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.
Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.