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Teal vs Cerulean: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Teal and Cerulean is brightness and saturation: both are cyan shades, but Cerulean is lighter. Teal (#008080) has an HSL of 180°, 100%, 25%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.

Teal#008080
Cerulean#007BA7
#008080Blended: #007E94#007BA7

Teal vs Cerulean: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Teal Cerulean
BrightnessDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantialDark (L=33%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyCyanCyan
TemperatureCoolCool
Hex code#008080#007BA7
RGB0, 128, 1280, 123, 167

Can you use Teal and Cerulean together?

Cerulean text on Teal
Teal text on Cerulean
Contrast Ratio:1.00:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Teal and Cerulean Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Cerulean is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 16° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Teal vs Cerulean in Design

Use Teal for:
●Cool, techy, digital branding
●Water, ice, cleaning products
●Fresh modern UI accents
●Summer and tropical themes
●Youthful playful design
Use Cerulean for:
●Cool, techy, digital branding
●Water, ice, cleaning products
●Fresh modern UI accents
●Summer and tropical themes
●Youthful playful design

Teal and Cerulean Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Teal#008080

Teal (#008080) is a dark, vivid cyan with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
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Cerulean#007BA7

Cerulean (#007BA7) is a dark, vivid cyan with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Teal and Cerulean 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
Teal text on white
4.77:1AA
Sample text preview
Teal text on black
4.4:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on white
4.78:1AA
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on black
4.39:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Teal text on Cerulean
1:1Fail
Sample text preview
Cerulean text on Teal
1:1Fail

Explore Teal and Cerulean individually

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

Teal color page#008080 · shades, tints, pairingsCerulean color page#007BA7 · shades, tints, pairings

More Teal and Cerulean Comparisons

TealvsCyanTealvsAquaAzurevsCeruleanTealvsNavyCeruleanvsAzureTealvsSageCeruleanvsCobaltTealvsMintSky BluevsCeruleanGoldvsTealCharcoalvsCeruleanPinkvsTeal

Teal vs Cerulean FAQ

What is the difference between teal and cerulean?+
The main difference between Teal and Cerulean is brightness and saturation: both are cyan shades, but Cerulean is lighter. Teal (#008080) has an HSL of 180°, 100%, 25%, whereas Cerulean (#007BA7) sits at 196°, 100%, 33%.
Is teal darker than cerulean?+
Yes. Teal is darker, with a lightness of 25% in HSL compared to Cerulean at 33% — a 8-point gap.
Are teal and cerulean the same color?+
No. Teal is #008080 and Cerulean is #007BA7. They differ by 16° in hue, 8% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, teal or cerulean?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Teal at 100% and Cerulean at 100% in HSL.
Is teal warm or cool?+
Teal (#008080) is a cool cyan. Its hue sits at 180° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Is cerulean warm or cool?+
Cerulean (#007BA7) is a cool cyan. Its hue sits at 196° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool range.
Can you use teal and cerulean together?+
Yes. Both teal and cerulean are cyan shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use teal as the dominant color and cerulean as the accent or highlight.
What color family does teal belong to?+
Teal belongs to the cyan family. Its HSL is 180°, 100%, 25% — a cool tone within the broader cyan group.
What is the hex code for teal?+
The hex code for Teal is #008080. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 128, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(180, 100%, 25%).
What is the hex code for cerulean?+
The hex code for Cerulean is #007BA7. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 123, 167), and in HSL it's hsl(196, 100%, 33%).