Differences Between Turquoise, Teal, and Aqua (2025 Color Guide)

If you’ve ever found yourself confused about the differences between turquoise, teal, and aqua, you’re definitely not alone!
Even professional designers and manufacturers often mislabel these beautiful shades, leading to even more confusion for the rest of us.

Like many, I used to think of turquoise and aqua as interchangeable, and figuring out where teal fits in only added to the puzzle. For example, the Filofax Aqua Malden was described as "aqua," but looked far more jade green in person!

So let’s clear up the confusion: here’s a simple, updated guide to help you confidently distinguish between turquoise, teal, and aqua — whether you’re picking paint, fabrics, stationery, or wardrobe colors.

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🌊 Colour Basics: The Blue-Green Spectrum

Turquoise, teal, and aqua are all part of the blue-green colour family, meaning they’re created by blending blue and green in different proportions.

The key differences lie in:
✅ Colour balance (how much blue vs green)
✅ Saturation (how bright vs muted)
✅ Lightness (how light vs dark)

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🔹 What Is Turquoise?

Visual Description:

✅ A bright, vibrant blue-green
✅ More blue than green
✅ Light to medium in tone
✅ Named after the turquoise gemstone

Hex / RGB (approximate):

• Hex: #40E0D0

• More blue-based than teal

• Brighter than both teal and aqua

Where you’ll see it:

✅ Jewelry (turquoise stones)
✅ Beach-inspired decor
✅ Fashion — spring/summer palettes
✅ Southwestern and boho designs

Common confusion:

Often mistaken for aqua because both are bright and light — but turquoise typically has more blue and a richer depth.

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🔷 What Is Teal?

Visual Description:

✅ A deeper, darker blue-green
✅ Equal balance of blue and green
✅ Muted, sophisticated tone
✅ Leans slightly more green in many variations

Hex / RGB (approximate):

• Hex: #008080

• True teal is a 50/50 mix of blue and green with lower brightness

Where you’ll see it:

✅ Home interiors — accent walls, cushions
✅ Fashion — autumn/winter collections
✅ Corporate branding
✅ Graphic design (backgrounds, text highlights)

Common confusion:

Sometimes misnamed as turquoise, but teal is darker and more muted.

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🔹 What Is Aqua?

Visual Description:

✅ A light, bright, fresh blue-green
✅ More blue than green, but very close to turquoise in appearance
✅ Slightly lighter and less saturated than turquoise
✅ Name derived from the Latin word for water (aqua)

Hex / RGB (approximate):

• Hex: #00FFFF (sometimes also #7FDBFF or similar variations)

• Aqua is technically a lighter tint of cyan in digital terms

Where you’ll see it:

✅ Web design (HTML colour name: aqua = pure cyan)
✅ Swimwear
✅ Tropical-themed products
✅ Water-related branding and spa themes

Common confusion:

Easily confused with turquoise, but aqua is often slightly lighter and more pastel in tone.

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🖌️ Quick Summary Table

Color	Base Tone	Brightness	Balance	Typical Usage
Turquoise	More blue	Bright	Blue > Green	Jewellery, decor, fashion
Teal	Equal mix	Darker, muted	50/50	Interiors, corporate design
Aqua	More blue	Lightest, brightest	Blue > Green	Web, tropical themes

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🎨 Real-World Examples (Common Mislabeling)

✅ The Filofax Aqua Malden: Many users report it looking more jade or green, proving how subjective and inconsistent colour naming can be!

✅ Paint swatches: One brand’s "turquoise" may look like another’s "teal."

✅ Fashion lines: Retailers often interchange aqua and turquoise.

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🌟 Final Thoughts: How to Choose the Right Shade

When selecting between turquoise, teal, and aqua:

✅ If you want rich jewel tones → choose teal
✅ If you want beachy & bright → choose turquoise
✅ If you want light & airy → choose aqua

👉 If shopping online, always look for real photos and colour swatches — product names can be misleading!

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🗨️ Your Turn!

Have you struggled to tell turquoise, teal, and aqua apart?
Do you have favourite colour pairings or decor ideas using these shades?

💬 Share your thoughts and tips in the comments — I’d love to hear from fellow colour enthusiasts!