What Colors Make Green? The Color Mixing Guide (+ Palettes)

Green is one of the most satisfying colors to mix because the formula is so simple and reliable. It is a secondary color, which means it is made by combining two primaries.

This guide covers exactly what colors make green, how to mix popular shades like lime, teal, and sage, and how to avoid a muddy result. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.

The simple answer: what colors make green #

Blue + yellow = green. Start with roughly equal parts for a balanced green, then shift it warm or cool by changing the ratio.

Blue + Yellow = Green

Mixing different shades of green #

The ratio of blue to yellow controls the character of the green:

Lime green: more yellow
Teal green: more blue
Light green: green + white
Dark green: green + a little black
Sage green: green + a little gray or red to mute it

More yellow = lime green

More blue = teal green

Green shades, dark to light

Paint vs light #

In paint and traditional mixing, green is a secondary color from blue and yellow. In light (RGB), green is a primary color, which is why screens use red, green, and blue to build every other color. If you are mixing paint or picking swatches, blue plus yellow is all you need.

Common mistakes #

If your green looks dull, the culprit is usually a blue or yellow that already leans toward another color, or too much complementary red sneaking in. Start with clean, true primaries and mix in small steps.

Build your own green palette #

Use the PaletteDeck generator to build a full palette around any green, browse our most popular palettes, or explore more color guides.

Frequently asked questions

What two colors make green?

Blue and yellow make green. Starting with roughly equal parts gives a balanced green, and you adjust from there by adding more of one color.

What colors make lime green?

Mix blue and yellow with extra yellow to make lime green. The higher proportion of yellow gives the green its bright, zesty, yellow-leaning character.

What colors make dark green?

Make a green from blue and yellow, then add a small amount of black to deepen it. Using more blue in the original mix also produces a darker, richer green.

What colors make sage green?

Mix a green, then mute it with a little gray or a touch of its complement, red. This desaturates the green into the soft, grayed tone of sage.

Why is my green muddy?

A muddy green usually comes from a blue or yellow that leans toward other colors, or from adding too much of a complementary red. Use cleaner primaries and avoid over-mixing.

Is green a primary color?

Green is a secondary color in paint mixing, made from blue and yellow. In the RGB light model, however, green is a primary color used to create light on screens.