What Color Is #808000?

At 60° on the hue wheel, #808000 lands firmly in the yellow 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 #808000

Colors in the yellow family are associated with optimism, clarity, and happiness. As a dark variant, #808000 amplifies those associations with depth and gravity, lending authority to any composition.

Where to Use HEX Code #808000

Hero sections and full-width banners where dark yellow 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 yellow 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

#717100
A closely related gray shade with subtle tonal variation
#996700
Similar hue with adjusted saturation for alternative design needs
#A35D00
Complementary orange tone for palette coordination
#AD532D
Nearby color value offering slightly different brightness
#B74937
Related red option for creating harmonious color schemes
#C13F00
Adjacent shade useful for gradient transitions
#CB3500
Comparable orange alternative with distinct character

HEX Code #808000 in Design Systems

To implement #808000 effectively in a design system, define it as a CSS custom property: :root { --color-yellow-dark: #808000; }. 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 113/255, 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 #808000

What color is #808000?
#808000 produces a dark yellow tone. The RGB breakdown (128, 128, 0) shows how the three light channels combine to create this specific yellow hue at 60° on the color wheel.
Is #808000 a dark or light color?
#808000 registers as a dark color at 113/255 perceived brightness. In practical terms, white (#FFFFFF) or very light text will provide the best readability.
What colors go well with #808000?
Complementary pairing (≈240° hue) creates energetic contrast with #808000. Split-complementary (±150°) adds variety with less tension. Monochromatic schemes — lighter and darker yellow shades — are the safest harmonious option.
Can I use #808000 for branding?
#808000 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 #808000 to other color formats?
Convert #808000 to RGB(128, 128, 0) by splitting the hex into three pairs and converting each from base-16 to base-10. HSL(60°, 100%, 25%) is derived from the RGB values using the standard algorithm. Visit our HEX to HSL converter for additional formats.