Home /Compare /Olive Drab vs Sage Green

Olive Drab vs Sage Green: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Olive Drab and Sage Green is brightness and saturation: both are yellow-green shades, but Sage Green is lighter and Olive Drab is more saturated. Olive Drab (#6B8E23) has an HSL of 80°, 60%, 35%, whereas Sage Green (#9CAF88) sits at 89°, 20%, 61%.

Olive Drab#6B8E23
Sage Green#9CAF88
#6B8E23Blended: #849F56#9CAF88

Olive Drab vs Sage Green: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Olive Drab Sage Green
BrightnessDark (L=35%) — rich, serious, substantialLight (L=61%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationModerately saturated (S=60%) — balanced in intensityMuted (S=20%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyYellow-greenYellow-green
TemperatureCool-leaningCool-leaning
Hex code#6B8E23#9CAF88
RGB107, 142, 35156, 175, 136

Can you use Olive Drab and Sage Green together?

Sage Green text on Olive Drab
Olive Drab text on Sage Green
Contrast Ratio:1.61:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Olive Drab and Sage Green Apart

  • Look at lightness first: Sage Green is noticeably lighter.
  • Check saturation: Olive Drab 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 Olive Drab vs Sage Green in Design

Use Olive Drab 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

Olive Drab and Sage Green Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Olive Drab#6B8E23

Olive Drab (#6B8E23) is a dark, moderately saturated yellow-green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and balanced in intensity.

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HSV
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PANTONE
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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.

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RGB
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HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Olive Drab 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
Olive Drab text on white
3.81:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Olive Drab text on black
5.52:1AA
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
Olive Drab text on Sage Green
1.61:1Fail
Sample text preview
Sage Green text on Olive Drab
1.61:1Fail

Explore Olive Drab 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 Olive Drab and Sage Green Comparisons

Olive Drab vs Sage Green FAQ

What is the difference between olive drab and sage green?+
The main difference between Olive Drab and Sage Green is brightness and saturation: both are yellow-green shades, but Sage Green is lighter and Olive Drab is more saturated. Olive Drab (#6B8E23) has an HSL of 80°, 60%, 35%, whereas Sage Green (#9CAF88) sits at 89°, 20%, 61%.
Is olive drab darker than sage green?+
Yes. Olive Drab is darker, with a lightness of 35% in HSL compared to Sage Green at 61% — a 26-point gap.
Are olive drab and sage green the same color?+
No. Olive Drab is #6B8E23 and Sage Green is #9CAF88. They differ by 9° in hue, 26% in lightness, and 40% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, olive drab or sage green?+
Olive Drab is more saturated. In HSL, Olive Drab has 60% saturation and Sage Green has 20% — Olive Drab is the more vivid of the two, while Sage Green reads as more muted.
Is olive drab warm or cool?+
Olive Drab (#6B8E23) is a cool-leaning yellow-green. Its hue sits at 80° 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 olive drab and sage green together?+
Yes. Both olive drab and sage green are yellow-green shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use olive drab as the dominant color and sage green as the accent or highlight.
What color family does olive drab belong to?+
Olive Drab belongs to the yellow-green family. Its HSL is 80°, 60%, 35% — a cool-leaning tone within the broader yellow-green group.
What is the hex code for olive drab?+
The hex code for Olive Drab is #6B8E23. In RGB, that's rgb(107, 142, 35), and in HSL it's hsl(80, 60%, 35%).
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%).