Teal is a blue-green color that sits between blue and green on the color spectrum. When deciding what colors are similar or “close to” teal, there are a few ways to look at it:
Colors next to teal on the color wheel
The first way is to look at colors that are next to teal on the standard color wheel. The colors that sit on either side of teal are:
- Blue-green
- Green-blue
These colors mix a strong component of blue and green, just like teal does. Blue-green contains a bit more blue, while green-blue contains a bit more green. But they are the colors that are most directly adjacent to teal on the color wheel.
Other shades of teal
In addition to the colors on either side of teal, we can look at other shades of teal itself. Some examples of other teal shades include:
- Dark teal
- Light teal
- Bright teal
- Seafoam teal
- Teal blue
- Teal green
These shades vary the lightness, brightness, and green/blue balance of teal to create new but closely related colors. Dark teal is deeper and more blue-based, while light teal is pale and more green-based for example.
Colors with similar hues
Beyond the colors right next to teal on the wheel, other hues that have a similar mix of blue and green include:
- Turquoise
- Aquamarine
- Cyan
- Mint
These colors are slightly different from teal but coordinate well with it. Turquoise leans more blue, aquamarine more green, and cyan/mint are brighter.
| Color | Hue | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Teal | 180 degrees | Balanced blue-green |
| Blue-green | 175 degrees | More blue |
| Green-blue | 185 degrees | More green |
| Turquoise | 170 degrees | Blue-leaning |
| Aquamarine | 160 degrees | Green-leaning |
| Cyan | 180 degrees | Brighter teal |
| Mint | 150 degrees | Pale green-blue |
This table summarizes some key teal-like hues and how they compare to true teal in terms of hue angle and color balance.
Colors with similar vibes
Looking beyond hue, some additional colors that have a similar energetic, rejuvenating vibe as teal include:
- Lime green
- Robin’s egg blue
- Tiffany blue
- Seafoam green
These colors remind people of the ocean, lakes, tropical waters and have an invigorating spring or summer feel. They pair well with teal for a cool, casual color scheme.
Complementary colors
Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel. The complementary color for teal is:
- Orange
Teal and orange have strong visual contrast, making them stand out against each other. This contrast can create vibrant, eye-catching color combinations.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. The analogous colors for teal include:
- Blue
- Green
Teal, blue and green have a harmonious relationship, creating pleasant, soothing color schemes. Using tones, tints and shades of these analogous colors is a popular web design technique.
Triadic colors
Triadic color schemes use three colors spaced equally around the color wheel. The triadic colors for teal are:
- Teal
- Orange
- Magenta
These three colors form a vivid, dynamic combination. Triadic schemes tend to have a lively, energetic mood with lots of visual interest.
Conclusion
There are many colors that live in the neighborhood of teal on the color wheel. Shades of teal, analogous colors like blue and green, and complementary oranges are some go-to options. But similar hues like turquoise and bright accents like lime green and robin’s egg blue also coordinate well with teal. Whether you want to smoothly match or create striking contrasts, teal pairs up in lots of pleasing ways.
