Seafoam Green Color Palette
Seafoam Green is hex #93E9BE, rgb(147, 233, 190). Seafoam green is a pale blue-green, like the foam on breaking waves. It was a signature color of 1950s kitchens and cars, so it also carries a retro feel.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Seafoam Green color codes
Reading the seafoam green color codes
The hex code #93E9BE is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. 93 is 147, E9 is 233 and BE is 190, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(147, 233, 190) in CSS. The green channel is the strongest here, which is what gives seafoam green its teal-green character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 150 degrees places seafoam green in the teal-green part of the color wheel. Saturation of 66% makes it vivid, and lightness of 75% makes it a light 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 37% cyan, 0% magenta, 18% yellow and 9% 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 seafoam green for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Seafoam Green shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #93E9BE, so you can use seafoam green for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"seafoam-green": {
50: "#E1F9ED",
100: "#C7F4DD",
200: "#ADEECE",
300: "#93E9BE",
400: "#83D1AA",
500: "#72B996",
600: "#62A182",
700: "#52896E",
800: "#417159",
900: "#315945",
950: "#214231",
},
},
},
}:root {
--seafoam-green-50: #E1F9ED;
--seafoam-green-100: #C7F4DD;
--seafoam-green-200: #ADEECE;
--seafoam-green-300: #93E9BE;
--seafoam-green-400: #83D1AA;
--seafoam-green-500: #72B996;
--seafoam-green-600: #62A182;
--seafoam-green-700: #52896E;
--seafoam-green-800: #417159;
--seafoam-green-900: #315945;
--seafoam-green-950: #214231;
}A shade-by-shade guide to seafoam 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 (#E1F9ED) and 100 (#C7F4DD), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the seafoam green mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#ADEECE) and 300 (#93E9BE) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where seafoam 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 700.
The darkest steps, 800 (#417159) through 950 (#214231), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to seafoam 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 seafoam green
How the seafoam green color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from seafoam green is #E993BE, which sits closest to lilac 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. #93E993 and #93E9E9 sit 30 degrees either side of seafoam 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 (#BE93E9 and #E9BE93) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to lilac. The split complementary set (#E993E9 and #E99393) 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 #DDF8EB to #28C577. 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.
Seafoam Green compared with similar colors
mint green (#98FF98) is lighter (80% vs 75% lightness) and more saturated, and leans back the wheel toward green. Choose mint green if you want a softer, airier version; choose seafoam green if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
powder blue (#B0E0E6) is lighter (80% vs 75% lightness) and more muted, and leans further around the wheel toward cyan. Choose powder blue if you want a softer, airier version; choose seafoam green if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
sky blue (#87CEEB) is about as light and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward cyan. Choose sky blue if you need more weight and contrast; choose seafoam green if you want its specific balance of brightness and color.
Seafoam Green in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here seafoam green carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
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Using seafoam green in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. White labels on seafoam green only reach 1.43:1, so use dark text (14.64:1 with black) or a deeper shade for the button.
- Text. Avoid seafoam green for body text on white; use step 800 or darker for links and headings that need to read as seafoam green.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a vivid light 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 seafoam 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). Seafoam Green scores 1.43:1 against white (Fail) and 14.64:1 against black (AAA). 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 seafoam green alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What seafoam green means
Green reads as growth, health, money and calm. Muted greens feel natural and organic; saturated greens feel fresh and energetic.
Seafoam green is named after the pale foam on breaking waves. It was a hallmark of 1950s design, appearing on cars, kitchen appliances and diners, which gives it a strong retro association alongside its coastal one.
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 seafoam green works best
- Retro and mid-century design
- Beach and coastal brands
- Baby products
- Spa and wellness
How to style seafoam green
Seafoam pairs with coral, cream, navy, cherry red and pale pink. It is light, so always use dark text on it. It makes a pleasant background tint for coastal and retro designs, but needs a darker partner color for buttons and links.
Build a UI with seafoam green
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #93E9BE 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 seafoam green?
The hex code for seafoam green used on this page is #93E9BE. In RGB that is rgb(147, 233, 190), and in HSL it is hsl(150, 66%, 75%).
What colors go well with seafoam green?
Seafoam Green pairs well with #E3F8EE, #FFF8F0, #F28482 (the Diner 1955 palette above). Its complementary color is #E993BE, and analogous colors are #93E993 and #93E9E9.
Is seafoam green a warm or cool color?
Seafoam Green is a slightly warm color. Its hue sits at 150 degrees on the color wheel with 66% saturation.
Can I use seafoam green for text?
Seafoam Green has a contrast ratio of 1.43:1 against white and 14.64:1 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 seafoam green mean?
Green reads as growth, health, money and calm. Muted greens feel natural and organic; saturated greens feel fresh and energetic. Seafoam Green in particular is used for retro and mid-century design and beach and coastal brands.
How do I use seafoam green in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#93E9BE] 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-seafoam-green-500 and text-seafoam-green-900.
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