Moss Green Color Palette
Moss Green is hex #8A9A5B, rgb(138, 154, 91). Moss green is a muted yellow-green, the color of moss on stone. It is earthier than sage and more yellow than olive.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Moss Green color codes
Reading the moss green color codes
The hex code #8A9A5B is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. 8A is 138, 9A is 154 and 5B is 91, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(138, 154, 91) in CSS. The green channel is the strongest here, which is what gives moss green its yellow-green character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 75 degrees places moss green in the yellow-green part of the color wheel. Saturation of 26% makes it muted, and lightness of 48% makes it a mid-tone color. HSL is the easiest format to adjust by hand: keep the hue, then raise or lower lightness to create tints and shades that stay in the same family.
For print, the approximate CMYK mix is 10% cyan, 0% magenta, 41% yellow and 40% black. Screen and print colors never match perfectly, because monitors emit light while ink absorbs it, so always proof a printed sample before committing to moss green for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Moss Green shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #8A9A5B, so you can use moss green for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"moss-green": {
50: "#EAEDE2",
100: "#DADFCB",
200: "#CAD1B5",
300: "#BAC49E",
400: "#AAB688",
500: "#9AA871",
600: "#8A9A5B",
700: "#74814C",
800: "#5D683E",
900: "#474F2F",
950: "#313720",
},
},
},
}:root {
--moss-green-50: #EAEDE2;
--moss-green-100: #DADFCB;
--moss-green-200: #CAD1B5;
--moss-green-300: #BAC49E;
--moss-green-400: #AAB688;
--moss-green-500: #9AA871;
--moss-green-600: #8A9A5B;
--moss-green-700: #74814C;
--moss-green-800: #5D683E;
--moss-green-900: #474F2F;
--moss-green-950: #313720;
}A shade-by-shade guide to moss green
The 50 to 950 scale above follows the same structure as Tailwind's built-in palettes, so each step has a natural job. The lightest steps, 50 (#EAEDE2) and 100 (#DADFCB), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the moss green mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#CAD1B5) and 300 (#BAC49E) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where moss green is most recognizable, so use it for brand moments, illustrations and primary buttons. White text reaches the 4.5:1 body-text contrast minimum from step 800 upward, so use step 800 or darker when a button label needs to be white. Near-black text stays readable on steps 50 to 600.
The darkest steps, 800 (#5D683E) through 950 (#313720), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to moss green. Using step 900 or 950 for text instead of pure black is one of the simplest ways to make an interface feel designed rather than default.
Colors that go with moss green
How the moss green color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from moss green is #6B5B9A, which sits closest to slate grey among common named colors. Complementary pairs create the strongest contrast of hue, so use the second color sparingly, for a single call to action or highlight, rather than in equal amounts.
Analogous. #9A8A5B and #6A9A5B sit 30 degrees either side of moss green. Analogous palettes feel calm and cohesive because the colors share undertones; they are ideal for illustrations, gradients and backgrounds where you want harmony more than contrast.
Triadic and split complementary. The triadic set (#5B8A9A and #9A5B8A) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to slate grey. The split complementary set (#5B6B9A and #8A5B9A) keeps much of the complementary contrast but is easier to balance, which makes it a good choice for data visualization and multi-category tags.
Monochromatic. The monochromatic set runs from #CED5B9 to #3A4026. A single-hue palette is the safest way to build a calm, premium interface: rely on lightness for hierarchy, then add one neutral and one accent if you need emphasis.
Moss Green compared with similar colors
pistachio (#93C572) is lighter (61% vs 48% lightness) and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward yellow-green. Choose pistachio if you want a softer, airier version; choose moss green if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
sage green (#9CAF88) is lighter (61% vs 48% lightness) and more muted, and leans further around the wheel toward yellow-green. Choose sage green if you want a softer, airier version; choose moss green if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
slate grey (#708090) is about as light and more muted, and leans further around the wheel toward blue. Choose slate grey if you want a softer, airier version; choose moss green if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
Moss Green in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here moss green carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
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Using moss green in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. White labels on moss green reach 3.06:1, enough for large or bold text only. For regular button labels, use step 800 or switch to dark text.
- Text. Avoid moss green for body text on white; use step 800 or darker for links and headings that need to read as moss green.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a muted mid-tone color draw attention, so give them a reason, like a hero section or pricing highlight.
- Dark mode. Steps 900 and 950 make a dark surface tinted with moss green. On dark backgrounds the base color often needs a lighter step (300 or 400) to keep enough contrast for icons and borders, as required by WCAG non-text contrast.
- States. Shift one step darker for hover and two steps darker for pressed. Keep focus rings in a contrasting color so keyboard users can always see them.
Contrast and accessibility
AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text. AAA needs 7:1.
Color contrast is measured as a ratio from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white). Moss Green scores 3.06:1 against white (AA large) and 6.85:1 against black (AA). The WCAG 2.1 contrast guideline asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which is why the shade guide above recommends specific steps for text and labels.
Contrast is only half of accessibility. Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, so never use moss green alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What moss green means
Green reads as growth, health, money and calm. Muted greens feel natural and organic; saturated greens feel fresh and energetic.
Moss green describes the muted yellow-green of moss growing on stone and bark. It is an earthy, quiet color that rose with the popularity of natural, organic and craft aesthetics.
In interfaces green is already wired to mean success and confirmation, so if you use it as a brand color, pick a different hue (or a much darker shade) for success states so the two never get confused.
Where moss green works best
- Organic food
- Gardening and plants
- Earthy interiors
- Outdoor apparel
How to style moss green
Moss pairs with terracotta, rust, cream, brown and soft gold. It is a mid-tone, so check contrast for both white and dark text. In interfaces it works for tags, illustrations and secondary actions in nature-focused brands.
Build a UI with moss green
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #8A9A5B as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- WCAG 2.1: Contrast (Minimum) · The W3C rule behind the 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds used on this page.
- WCAG 2.1: Use of Color · Why color should never be the only way information is shown.
- MDN: CSS color values · Reference for hex, rgb() and hsl() syntax.
- Tailwind CSS: Customizing colors · How to add a custom color scale to your theme.
Similar colors
Questions people ask
What is the hex code for moss green?
The hex code for moss green used on this page is #8A9A5B. In RGB that is rgb(138, 154, 91), and in HSL it is hsl(75, 26%, 48%).
What colors go well with moss green?
Moss Green pairs well with #4F5D2F, #EEF0E2, #A47551 (the Forest Floor palette above). Its complementary color is #6B5B9A, and analogous colors are #9A8A5B and #6A9A5B.
Is moss green a warm or cool color?
Moss Green is a slightly warm color. Its hue sits at 75 degrees on the color wheel with 26% saturation.
Can I use moss green for text?
Moss Green has a contrast ratio of 3.06:1 against white and 6.85:1 against black. Body text needs at least 4.5:1, so it works as a background behind dark text, but not as text on white.
What does moss green mean?
Green reads as growth, health, money and calm. Muted greens feel natural and organic; saturated greens feel fresh and energetic. Moss Green in particular is used for organic food and gardening and plants.
How do I use moss green in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#8A9A5B] for a one-off, or add the 50-950 scale from this page to theme.extend.colors in tailwind.config.js and use classes like bg-moss-green-500 and text-moss-green-900.
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