Olive Drab

HEX: #6B8E23 | Modern Palette

On White
3.81:1
FAIL
On Black
5.52:1
PASS

Color Specifications

HEX
#6B8E23
RGB
107, 142, 35
HSL
79°, 75% ,55%
CMYK
24.65, 0, 75.35, 44.31

About Olive Drab

Olive Drab (#6B8E23) is a color with RGB(107, 142, 35) and HSL(79.63°, 75.35%, 55.69%). In design, it fits Vivid styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #46238E, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #236B8E and #8E236B. The name comes from Olive Drab (English).

  • HEX: #6B8E23
  • RGB: 107, 142, 35
  • HSL: 79.63°, 75.35%, 55.69%
  • Style: Vivid
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #46238E
  • Triadic colors: #236B8E, #8E236B
  • The name comes from Olive Drab (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Olive Drab #6B8E23 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
OLIVE DRAB
YELLOW GREEN
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
OLIVE DRAB
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
YELLOW GREEN
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Olive Drab #6B8E23 pairs with #46238E as its complementary color, and #236B8E and #8E236B in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

OLIVE DRAB
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

OLIVE DRAB
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

OLIVE DRAB
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

OLIVE DRAB
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

OLIVE DRAB
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

OLIVE DRAB

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Olive Drab #6B8E23 moves from dark #0F1405 tones through the base color to lighter #F5FAEB tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

OLIVE DRAB

Color Characteristics

Mood
Style
Vivid
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #858526
Protanopia #8B8B22
Tritanopia #768686
Achromatopsia #838383

Frequently Asked Questions

Olive Drab (#6B8E23) is a color with RGB(107, 142, 35) and HSL(79.63°, 75.35%, 55.69%).

#6B8E23 pairs strongly with #46238E as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#6B8E23 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid styles.

The name Olive Drab is linked to Olive Drab from English, meaning A dull olive-green color, often associated with military uniforms and equipment..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Olive Drab
Meaning A dull olive-green color, often associated with military uniforms and equipment.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The term 'Olive Drab' emerged in the late 19th century as various militaries began to adopt less conspicuous uniform colors for camouflage purposes. Prior to this, bright colors were common. The 'drab' component refers to a dull, light-brownish-yellow color, often used for plain, undyed fabrics. When combined with 'olive,' it describes the specific dull, greenish-brown hue. It became the standard color for U.S. Army uniforms and equipment during World War I and was widely used through World War II and the Korean War. Its use has continued in various forms and shades within military contexts globally.

First Recorded Use

1890s

Cultural Associations

Olive Drab is strongly associated with military aesthetics, particularly American military history from the early to mid-20th century. It evokes images of wartime, utility, ruggedness, and practicality. Beyond military use, it has been adopted in fashion, workwear, and outdoor gear, often to convey a sense of durability, earthiness, or a utilitarian style. It can also carry connotations of vintage or retro military surplus items. In some contexts, it might be seen as a symbol of peace or protest when associated with anti-war movements that repurposed military clothing.

Similar Named Colors
Avocado #568203 ΔE 5.41
Sap Green #507D2A ΔE 8.30
May Green #4C9141 ΔE 8.37
Moss Green #8A9A5B ΔE 9.24

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #6B8E23;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #6B8E23;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #6B8E23;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #6B8E23,
        #7139E3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #6B8E23,
        #7139E3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$olive-drab: #6B8E23;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$olive-drab-r: 107;
$olive-drab-g: 142;
$olive-drab-b: 35;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $olive-drab;
    color: rgba($olive-drab-r, $olive-drab-g, $olive-drab-b, 0.8);
}