What Color Is #008080?

At 180° on the hue wheel, #008080 lands firmly in the cyan family. Its 100% saturation gives it a vivid, attention-grabbing quality, while 25% lightness positions it as a dark variant — well-suited for dark-mode surfaces and high-contrast elements.

Color Meaning of #008080

Colors in the cyan family are associated with clarity, openness, and modernity. As a dark variant, #008080 amplifies those associations with depth and gravity, lending authority to any composition.

Where to Use HEX Code #008080

Hero sections and full-width banners where dark cyan tones anchor the page hierarchy
CTA buttons and interactive elements — the dark depth ensures visibility against light backgrounds
Navigation bars and sidebar accents that need to feel grounded and persistent
Data visualization charts where this cyan shade differentiates data series coherently
Icon fills and badge backgrounds that require consistent recognition across screen sizes
Email template accents where rendering fidelity across mail clients matters

Similar HEX Color Codes

#0F718F
A closely related teal shade with subtle tonal variation
#006799
Similar hue with adjusted saturation for alternative design needs
#00A35D
Complementary cyan tone for palette coordination
#2D5353
Nearby color value offering slightly different brightness
#00B7B7
Related gray option for creating harmonious color schemes
#00C1C1
Adjacent shade useful for gradient transitions
#4BCB35
Comparable green alternative with distinct character

HEX Code #008080 in Design Systems

To implement #008080 effectively in a design system, define it as a CSS custom property: :root { --color-cyan-dark: #008080; }. This single definition propagates to every component referencing the token, and a palette update requires changing just one line.

Accessibility testing is essential. With a perceived brightness of 90/255, this shade requires white or light text for adequate WCAG contrast — aim for 4.5:1 minimum on body text. Use it as a background or accent rather than text on dark surfaces.

FAQ About HEX Color Code #008080

What color is #008080?
#008080 produces a dark cyan tone. The RGB breakdown (0, 128, 128) shows how the three light channels combine to create this specific cyan hue at 180° on the color wheel.
Is #008080 a dark or light color?
#008080 registers as a dark color at 90/255 perceived brightness. In practical terms, white (#FFFFFF) or very light text will provide the best readability.
What colors go well with #008080?
Complementary pairing (≈0° hue) creates energetic contrast with #008080. Split-complementary (±150°) adds variety with less tension. Monochromatic schemes — lighter and darker cyan shades — are the safest harmonious option.
Can I use #008080 for branding?
#008080 can serve as a primary or secondary brand color. Before committing, verify it renders well in both RGB (screens) and CMYK (print), test it against competitor palettes for differentiation, and confirm it meets WCAG contrast requirements in all planned applications.
How do I convert #008080 to other color formats?
Convert #008080 to RGB(0, 128, 128) by splitting the hex into three pairs and converting each from base-16 to base-10. HSL(180°, 100%, 25%) is derived from the RGB values using the standard algorithm. Visit our HEX to HSL converter for additional formats.