The main difference between Teal and Green is hue — Teal is a cool cyan, while Green is a cool-leaning green. Teal and Green are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Teal (#008080) and Green (#008000) 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.
Teal is more saturated (100% HSL vs 100%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Green can feel washed out when printed small.
Green hits a 5.14:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Teal only reaches 4.77:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Teal is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Green leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Teal is the more muted of the two (100% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Green's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Teal (#008080) is a dark, vivid cyan with a cool undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Green (#008000) is a dark, vivid green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial 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.