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Turquoise vs Mint: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Turquoise and Mint is hue — Turquoise is a cool-leaning teal, while Mint is a cool-leaning green. Turquoise (#40E0D0) is a vivid blue-green named after the gemstone, while Mint (#98FF98) is a light, cool green named after mint leaves. Turquoise leans blue-green; mint leans pure green with a hint of cool.

Turquoise#40E0D0
Mint#98FF98
#40E0D0Blended: #6CF0B4#98FF98
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Turquoise vs Mint: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Turquoise Mint
Hue174° — blue-green120° — pure green
Blue contentHigh (208) — blue dominatesLow (152) — green dominates
LightnessMedium (L=56%)Light (L=80%)
FeelTropical, jewel-like, boldFresh, minty, pastel
Named afterTurquoise gemstoneMint herb leaves
Common useJewelry, summer fashionSpa, dental, clean beauty

Can you use Turquoise and Mint together?

Mint text on Turquoise
Turquoise text on Mint
Contrast Ratio:1.34:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Turquoise and Mint Apart

  • Turquoise has far more blue in it — it's clearly a blue-green, while mint is clearly a green.
  • Mint is lighter and softer; turquoise is more saturated and jewel-like.
  • Think of the things they're named after: a turquoise stone is vivid blue-green, mint leaves are pure green.
  • On a white background, mint almost disappears into pastel; turquoise still pops strongly.

Origin of Turquoise and Mint

Turquoise

Turquoise entered English in 1573 from Old French 'turquois' meaning 'Turkish', because the stone reached Europe via Turkish trade from Persia.

Mint

Mint as a color name appeared in 1920s American English during the pastel fashion boom, tied directly to the vivid green of Mentha leaves used in cooking and herbal medicine.

Turquoise or Mint: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

Branding & logos
PickMint

Mint 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.

Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickTurquoise

Turquoise hits a 1.64:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Mint only reaches 1.23:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

Fashion & apparel
PickMint

Mint is a cool-leaning tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Turquoise leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

Interior design & walls
PickTurquoise

Turquoise is the more muted of the two (72% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Mint's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Turquoise vs Mint in Design

Use Turquoise for:
Professional, calm branding
Health and wellness UI
Dark-mode accent colors
Modern tech interfaces
Corporate presentations
Use Mint for:
Eco, nature, wellness brands
Finance, success, growth
Go-states and confirmations
Food and garden products
Calm, grounded UI surfaces

Turquoise and Mint Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Turquoise#40E0D0

Turquoise (RGB 64,224,208) is a saturated blue-green that sits on the blue side of the green/blue boundary, famously used in Persian, Egyptian, and Native American jewelry.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Mint#98FF98

Mint (RGB 152,255,152) is a light pastel green with a cool blue undertone, popular in spa, dental, and clean-beauty branding. It reads as fresh, crisp, and minty-cold.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Turquoise and Mint 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
Turquoise text on white
1.64:1Fail
Sample text preview
Turquoise text on black
12.79:1AAA
Sample text preview
Mint text on white
1.23:1Fail
Sample text preview
Mint text on black
17.09:1AAA
Sample text preview
Turquoise text on Mint
1.34:1Fail
Sample text preview
Mint text on Turquoise
1.34:1Fail

Explore Turquoise and Mint individually

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

Turquoise color page#40E0D0 · shades, tints, pairings

More Turquoise and Mint Comparisons

Turquoise vs Mint FAQ

What is the difference between turquoise and mint?+
The main difference between Turquoise and Mint is hue — Turquoise is a cool-leaning teal, while Mint is a cool-leaning green. Turquoise (#40E0D0) is a vivid blue-green named after the gemstone, while Mint (#98FF98) is a light, cool green named after mint leaves. Turquoise leans blue-green; mint leans pure green with a hint of cool.
Is turquoise darker than mint?+
Yes. Turquoise is darker, with a lightness of 56% in HSL compared to Mint at 80% — a 24-point gap.
Are turquoise and mint the same color?+
No. Turquoise is #40E0D0 and Mint is #98FF98. They differ by 54° in hue, 24% in lightness, and 28% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, turquoise or mint?+
Mint is more saturated. In HSL, Turquoise has 72% saturation and Mint has 100% — Mint is the more vivid of the two, while Turquoise reads as more muted.
Is turquoise warm or cool?+
Turquoise (#40E0D0) is a cool-leaning teal. Its hue sits at 174° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Is mint warm or cool?+
Mint (#98FF98) is a cool-leaning green. Its hue sits at 120° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Can you use turquoise and mint together?+
Yes. Turquoise (teal) and Mint (green) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does turquoise belong to?+
Turquoise belongs to the teal family. Its HSL is 174°, 72%, 56% — a cool-leaning tone within the broader teal group.
What is the hex code for turquoise?+
The hex code for Turquoise is #40E0D0. In RGB, that's rgb(64, 224, 208), and in HSL it's hsl(174, 72%, 56%).
What is the hex code for mint?+
The hex code for Mint is #98FF98. In RGB, that's rgb(152, 255, 152), and in HSL it's hsl(120, 100%, 80%).