NCS S 4020-G50Y - Olive Green
NCS S 4020-G50Y (Olive Green) is an NCS color with a HEX approximation of #6B8E23, RGB 107, 142, 35, and CMYK 25/0/75/44. It has 40% blackness and 20% chromaticness with hue G50Y. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is 370 C (Delta E 1.20), and its closest NCS neighbor is S 3050-G20Y (Forest Green).
About NCS S 4020-G50Y
NCS S 4020-G50Y is part of the Natural Color System, a perceptual color notation system developed in Sweden and widely used across Scandinavia and Northern Europe for architectural paint specifications. The code reads as: S (Standard) · 40% blackness · 20% chromaticness · hue G50Y.
Like every NCS code, S 4020-G50Y is defined by a physical paint swatch in the NCS Color Atlas, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #6B8E23 is the most commonly-published translation, but physical NCS swatches are the only authoritative source. The full NCS Atlas contains roughly 1,950 codes; our reference covers 50 benchmark codes.
Closest Pantone match
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to NCS S 4020-G50Y is 370 C (#658D1B), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.20. This is a very close match suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Closest NCS neighbors
These NCS codes are perceptually closest to S 4020-G50Y, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family differ by Delta E 2-8 typically - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where NCS S 4020-G50Y is used
NCS S 4020-G50Y is typically specified in architectural facades, outdoor infrastructure, park and landscape elements, and safety signage. Its green tone makes it appropriate wherever a technical, industrial, or nature-referencing palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 4020-G50Y for a production run, verify the color against a physical NCS color fan under the actual lighting conditions and finish (matte, semi-gloss, gloss) that will be used - the same code looks meaningfully different across finishes.
Frequently asked questions
What is NCS S 4020-G50Y in HEX?
NCS S 4020-G50Y (Olive Green) has a HEX approximation of #6B8E23. This is the widely-published mid-range value - NCS is a perceptual color notation system, not a digital one, so any HEX representation is a translation rather than a definition. Different published sources disagree by 2-5% for the same NCS code; #6B8E23 is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What does NCS S 4020-G50Y mean?
The code breaks down as: S (Standard), 40% blackness, 20% chromaticness, hue G50Y. Blackness measures how much black the color contains relative to pure white (0%) and pure black (100%). Chromaticness measures how saturated the color is relative to a neutral gray at the same blackness. Hue G50Y specifies the position on the NCS perceptual color wheel - with Y for yellow, R for red, B for blue, G for green, or N for neutral.
What Pantone color is closest to NCS S 4020-G50Y?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated match to NCS S 4020-G50Y is 370 C (#658D1B), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.20. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
What NCS color is closest to NCS S 4020-G50Y?
The closest NCS neighbors to S 4020-G50Y are S 3050-G20Y (Forest Green, Delta E 10.2), S 4050-G (Dark Green, Delta E 12.4), S 3020-G (Sea Green, Delta E 15.2). Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where is NCS S 4020-G50Y commonly used?
NCS S 4020-G50Y is typically used in architectural facades, outdoor infrastructure, park and landscape elements, and safety signage. Its green tone makes it appropriate wherever a technical, industrial, or nature-referencing palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 4020-G50Y for a production run, verify against a physical NCS color fan - the same code looks meaningfully different in different finishes.