Dark Olive Green
A moody, grounding shade of earthy olive
Dark Olive Green is a murky, unsaturated shade that carries a heavy, serious mood. Because it is quite dark, the hex code #556b2f works best as a supporting accent or ground color rather than for large areas of text. It shines when paired with softer creams or warm terracottas to balance its dull, earthy intensity. Use it for branding that prioritizes tradition over flash.
About Dark Olive Green
Moss on the north side of a stone wall
What does dark olive green mean?
Olive green often calls to mind military uniforms, camouflage fabric, dried herbs, and shade under dense trees. Its low brightness and muted saturation give it a shaded, heavy feel, like daylight filtered through a thick canopy.
Where you see dark olive green
- olives
- moss
- army jackets
- camouflage fabric
- dried bay leaves
- pickle brine
What it works for
This color suits outdoor gear, rustic packaging, garden brands, and backgrounds that need an earthy tone without much noise.
What colors go with dark olive green?
Cream #fffdd0This dim green needs a light, warm neutral beside it to stay readable.Terracotta #e2725bClay red sits near olive's opposite on the wheel, so the pair warms up cleanly.Slate Blue #6a5acdMuted blue cools the olive's warmth and keeps both colors from turning muddy.Mustard #ffdb58Two low-brightness earth tones stack into a rich, tonal scheme.Eggplant #430541Deep purple darkens the mood and pulls out the olive's hidden yellow.
Questions about Dark Olive Green
What is the hex code for Dark Olive Green?
Dark Olive Green is #556b2f. In RGB that is rgb(85, 107, 47), in HSL hsl(82, 39%, 30%) and in CMYK 21%, 0%, 56%, 58%.
Is Dark Olive Green readable on white or black?
Dark Olive Green has a 5.94:1 contrast ratio on white and 3.53:1 on black. WCAG asks for 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text, so on white it works for body text and on black it works only for large text (24px, or 18.5px bold). Try other pairs in the contrast checker.