The main difference between Turquoise and Cyan is hue — Turquoise is a cool-leaning teal, while Cyan is a cool cyan. Turquoise and Cyan are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Turquoise (#40E0D0) and Cyan (#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.
Cyan is more saturated (100% HSL vs 72%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Turquoise can feel washed out when printed small.
Turquoise hits a 1.64:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Cyan only reaches 1.25:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.
Turquoise is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Cyan leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.
Turquoise is the more muted of the two (72% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Cyan's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.
Turquoise (#40E0D0) is a medium, vivid teal with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.
Cyan (#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.