Teal Color Code: HEX #008080, Meanings & Professional Palettes
Master Teal color design: from accessibility standards to SaaS platforms. Complete HEX codes, shades, and professional applications.
Is Teal Blue or Green? (HEX #008080)
Teal is a deep, medium-to-deep blue-green color. It combines the calming properties of blue with the renewal qualities of green. It is a stable, professional color that has become a staple in SaaS (Software as a Service) platforms and financial technology interfaces due to its high readability and trustworthiness.
The HEX code #008080 represents perfect equilibrium—equal parts blue and green in the RGB color model. This balance makes teal uniquely versatile: professional enough for enterprise software, yet approachable enough for consumer applications.
Why Designers Love Teal
- Excellent readability on both light and dark backgrounds
- Naturally passes WCAG accessibility standards
- Conveys trust, stability, and professionalism
- Perfect balance between engaging and soothing
Designing with Teal: Accessibility & Contrast
Teal is a champion of accessibility. When paired with white text, dark teal shades often pass WCAG AA and AAA standards with ease. This makes it an ideal choice for navigation bars, primary buttons, and data visualization where clarity is paramount.
For digital interfaces, True Teal (#008080) on white achieves a contrast ratio of 4.5:1, meeting WCAG AA standards for normal text. Dark Teal (#004D40) on white exceeds 7:1, qualifying for AAA compliance—the highest accessibility rating.
WCAG Compliance Examples
Modern Teal Palette Recommendations
Professionally crafted teal color schemes for real-world SaaS, FinTech, and startup applications. Each palette is tested for contrast, accessibility, and professional appeal.
Enterprise SaaS Platform
professionalProfessional SaaS palette with Dark Teal for navigation and True Teal for actions. Clean whites and light grays create a trustworthy enterprise interface.
#008080#004D40#FFFFFF#F5F5F5FinTech Dashboard
professionalFinancial technology palette using True Teal as the primary brand color with Tropical Teal accents. Dark mode base with Teal White highlights creates clarity for data visualization.
#008080#009688#1A1A1A#E0F2F1Health & Wellness Startup
modernFresh health tech palette with Tropical Teal leading and Coral CTAs. Muted Teal provides sophistication while light teals maintain a calming, trustworthy presence.
#009688#B2DFDB#FF7F50#5F9EA0Popular Teal Shades
Four essential teal shades for professional design, from authoritative darks to calm muted tones.
Dark Teal
DarkestSerious and authoritative - commands respect and trust
True Teal
StandardThe perfect blue-green balance - stable and professional
Tropical Teal
VibrantEnergetic and modern - perfect for startups and tech
Muted Teal
LightestCalm and balanced - ideal for editorial content
Extended Teal Spectrum
A comprehensive range of teal shades from light pastels to deep professional tones:
Best Teal Color Combinations
These complementary colors work beautifully with teal for various design contexts:
White
Clean, minimalist professional look
Coral
Energetic contrast for CTAs
Sand
Warm, earthy balance
Charcoal
Premium dark mode base
Teal Color Meaning & Psychology
Trust & Reliability
Teal inherits blue's association with trust and dependability, making it perfect for financial services, healthcare technology, and enterprise software where credibility is essential.
Balance & Clarity
The equal balance of blue and green creates visual equilibrium. Teal promotes clear thinking and emotional stability, ideal for productivity tools and collaborative platforms.
Renewal & Growth
Green's influence brings associations with growth, renewal, and vitality. Teal works exceptionally well for environmental, wellness, and sustainable technology brands.
Professional Sophistication
Unlike bright primary colors, teal conveys sophistication and refinement. It's professional without being corporate, modern without being trendy—perfect for established tech companies and innovative startups alike.
Best Practices for Teal Design
Prioritize Dark Teal for Primary Actions
Use darker shades like #004D40 or #008080 for primary buttons and key interactions. The strong contrast ensures visibility while the psychological association with trust encourages user confidence.
Test Accessibility Early
While teal generally performs well for accessibility, always verify contrast ratios during design. Dark teal on white passes AAA standards, but lighter teal shades may require careful testing for text readability.
Use Teal for Information Hierarchy
Leverage different teal shades to create visual hierarchy without introducing new colors. Dark teal for headers, true teal for links, and muted teal for secondary text creates a cohesive, professional interface.
Pair with Warm Accents for Balance
Teal's cool nature benefits from warm accent colors like coral, orange, or gold. These combinations create visual interest and guide attention to calls-to-action while maintaining professional credibility.
CSS Teal Gradient Code
Copy and paste these CSS gradients to achieve professional teal effects for your SaaS or FinTech applications:
Classic Teal Gradient
background: linear-gradient(
135deg,
#004D40 0%,
#008080 50%,
#009688 100%
);Teal Ocean Wave
background: linear-gradient(
180deg,
#008080 0%,
#009688 25%,
#26A69A 50%,
#009688 75%,
#008080 100%
);Tailwind CSS Custom Config
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
backgroundImage: {
'teal-gradient': 'linear-gradient(135deg, #004D40 0%, #008080 50%, #009688 100%)',
}
}
}
}Quick Reference Table
| Name | HEX | RGB | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Teal | #004D40 | rgb(0, 77, 64) | Darkest |
| True Teal | #008080 | rgb(0, 128, 128) | Standard |
| Tropical Teal | #009688 | rgb(0, 150, 136) | Vibrant |
| Muted Teal | #5F9EA0 | rgb(95, 158, 160) | Lightest |
Explore Related Colors
Discover colors that pair beautifully with teal for your design projects:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Teal blue or green?
Teal is a blue-green color that sits exactly between blue and green on the color spectrum. It combines the calming, trustworthy properties of blue with the renewal, growth qualities of green. The HEX code #008080 represents equal parts blue (128) and green (128) in RGB, making it the perfect balanced hybrid.
What is the HEX code for Teal?
The standard HEX code for Teal is #008080. In RGB, it's rgb(0, 128, 128), and in HSL, it's hsl(180°, 100%, 25%). This color has become the standard for web design because of its excellent readability and professional appearance.
Is Teal good for accessibility?
Yes! Teal is exceptional for accessibility. When paired with white text, shades like Dark Teal (#004D40) and True Teal (#008080) easily pass WCAG AA and AAA standards. This makes teal ideal for navigation bars, primary buttons, and data visualization where clarity and compliance are paramount.
What colors go well with Teal?
Teal pairs beautifully with White (#FFFFFF) for clean professional designs, Coral (#FF7F50) for energetic contrast, Sand (#F5F5DC) for earthy warmth, and Charcoal (#36454F) for premium dark mode interfaces. It also works well with other blues and greens for monochromatic schemes.
Create Professional Teal Designs
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