Dark Olive Green Hex Code — #556B2F

RGB, HSL, and CMYK values for Dark Olive Green.

Last updated: April 6, 2026

Dark Olive Green Color Values

FormatValue
HEX#556B2F
RGBrgb(85, 107, 47)
HSLhsl(82, 39%, 30%)
CMYKcmyk(21%, 0%, 56%, 58%)
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About Dark Olive Green

Color psychology: Sophistication, nature.

Dark Olive Green (#556B2F) is a dark shade of green with a hue angle of 82° on the color wheel, 39% saturation, and 30% lightness. It's commonly used in web design, graphic design, and branding where sophistication, nature are desired associations.

In color theory, Dark Olive Green sits in the neutral section of the spectrum. Its moderate saturation gives it a balanced, professional appearance suitable for both text and backgrounds.

When to Use Dark Olive Green in Design

Web Design

Use Dark Olive Green for headings, links, or accent elements against light backgrounds. Dark colors like this provide strong contrast and draw the eye to important content.

Branding & Logo

Dark Olive Green conveys sophistication, nature — consider it for brands that want to project these qualities. Test it at small sizes (favicon, social avatar) to ensure it remains recognizable.

Print Design

Use the CMYK values (C:21% M:0% Y:56% K:58%) for accurate print reproduction in brochures, business cards, and packaging. Request a physical proof — screen colors often appear more vibrant than their printed equivalents.

UI / UX Design

Dark colors like Dark Olive Green are effective for primary buttons, navigation bars, and text. Use a lighter tint (increase HSL lightness to 90%+) for hover backgrounds.

How to Use Dark Olive Green in CSS

/* Using HEX */
color: #556B2F;
background-color: #556B2F;

/* Using RGB */
color: rgb(85, 107, 47);

/* Using HSL — best for creating variations */
color: hsl(82, 39%, 30%);

/* Transparent overlay (50% opacity) */
background-color: rgba(85, 107, 47, 0.5);

/* Lighter variant for hover states */
background-color: hsl(82, 39%, 40%);

/* Darker variant for active states */
background-color: hsl(82, 39%, 20%);

HSL is the most flexible format for creating color systems. By adjusting the lightness value, you can generate an entire shade scale from Dark Olive Green without changing its core hue or saturation.

Colors That Go With Dark Olive Green

Complementary

Analogous

Triadic

Similar Shades of Green

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for Dark Olive Green?
The hex color code for Dark Olive Green is #556B2F. In CSS, apply it as text color with color: #556B2F;, as a background with background-color: #556B2F;, or as a border with border-color: #556B2F;. Hex is the most widely used color notation on the web because it is compact, supported by every browser, and easy to copy between design tools like Figma, Photoshop, and code editors.
What is Dark Olive Green in RGB and when should I use RGB?
Dark Olive Green in RGB is rgb(85, 107, 47), where Red=85, Green=107, and Blue=47 on a 0-255 scale. Use RGB when you need transparency — rgba(85, 107, 47, 0.5) creates a 50% transparent version. RGB is also the native format for HTML canvas, WebGL, and JavaScript image manipulation, since each channel represents the intensity of that primary light color on screen displays.
How to use Dark Olive Green in CSS with different color formats?
Dark Olive Green can be applied in CSS using multiple formats: (1) Hex: color: #556B2F; — most compact and widely used. (2) RGB: color: rgb(85, 107, 47); — useful when calculating colors dynamically in JavaScript. (3) HSL: color: hsl(82, 39%, 30%); — best for creating variations, since adjusting lightness produces lighter or darker shades while keeping the same hue. (4) With transparency: rgba(85, 107, 47, 0.8); or hsla(82, 39%, 30%, 0.8); for 80% opacity overlays.
What is the HSL value of Dark Olive Green and why is HSL useful for designers?
Dark Olive Green in HSL is hsl(82, 39%, 30%). HSL stands for Hue (82 degrees on the color wheel), Saturation (39% color intensity), and Lightness (30% brightness). HSL is the most intuitive format for designers because you can create harmonious palettes by rotating the hue, generate hover effects by increasing lightness by 10%, and desaturate colors by reducing the S value. This makes Dark Olive Green a dark, moderate neutral-toned color.
What is the CMYK value of Dark Olive Green for print design?
Dark Olive Green in CMYK is C:21% M:0% Y:56% K:58%. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the standard color model for professional printing — business cards, brochures, merchandise, and packaging. When designing for print in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, use these exact CMYK values to ensure accurate color reproduction. Screen colors (RGB) often appear more vibrant than their printed CMYK equivalents, so always request a physical proof for brand-critical materials.
What colors pair well with Dark Olive Green in design projects?
Green pairs naturally with white, cream, and brown tones. Dark greens work with gold for a luxury feel. In UI design, green is universally associated with success, confirmation, and positive actions.
Is Dark Olive Green (#556B2F) accessible for web design and WCAG compliant?
Green text needs to be dark enough for contrast (below #2E7D32 on white). Never rely solely on red/green to distinguish states — about 1 in 12 men cannot distinguish between these two colors. For Dark Olive Green specifically: as a dark shade (lightness: 30%), it can work as a text color on light backgrounds, but verify the exact contrast ratio using a contrast checker tool. WCAG 2.1 requires a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18px+ bold or 24px+ regular).

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Written by

Tamanna Tasnim

Senior Full Stack Developer

ToolsContainerDhaka, Bangladesh5+ years experiencetasnim@toolscontainer.comwww.toolscontainer.com

Full-stack developer with deep expertise in data formats, APIs, and developer tooling. Writes in-depth technical comparisons and conversion guides backed by hands-on engineering experience across modern web stacks.