Why sage has no single HEX code
Sage is a trend colour more than a standard one, and lists disagree about it. In the open colour-name list we use, “Sage” is #87AE73, a muted leaf green, while “Sage Green” is #887766, which most people would call a brownish taupe. We use the first one on this page because it matches what people picture. Paint makers each have their own sage, usually greyer than either.
| Name | HEX | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Sage | #87AE73 | Soft, slightly yellow green at 27% saturation |
| Sage Grey | #9EA49D | Grey with only a breath of green (4% saturation) |
| Dark sea green (CSS) | #8FBC8F | The closest CSS keyword to sage; a little cooler |
| “Sage Green” (name list) | #887766 | Actually warm grey-brown; rarely what anyone wants |
If you are matching a paint chip or fabric, photograph it in daylight and pick the value with the colour picker. Sage changes a lot under warm indoor light.
Sage vs olive
Both are muted greens, but olive is darker and much more yellow. CSS olive is #808000, hue 60°: technically a dark yellow. Sage sits at 100°, with grey softening it. Sage feels fresh and calm; olive feels earthy and military. Compare them on the olive green page.
What goes with sage green
- Cream and warm wood: the kitchen-and-bedroom look; sage makes the cream feel intentional rather than dated.
- Terracotta: earthy and Mediterranean, popular for wedding palettes and pottery-style branding.
- Charcoal: stops sage looking washed out. Charcoal text on sage scores 4.72:1, just over AA.
- Blush pink: soft and romantic; keep both at similar lightness so neither dominates.
Questions
What is the RGB code for sage green?
For #87AE73: rgb(135, 174, 115), HSL hsl(100, 27%, 57%).
Is sage green warm or cool?
Slightly warm, because of the yellow in it. Greyer sages turn neutral, which is why they work with both warm wood and cool grey.