In the pot, Olive Drab reads as a cool brown, dark and moderate. This is a common color; 4 other brands cover it, the nearest being Humbrol Army Green at 90 percent. Within the Tamiya range it ladders cleanly, Dark Green for the shadows and Indochina Green for the highlights. Treat it as an easy swap, just confirm the finish type matches before you commit.
Olive Drab equivalents, brand by brand
Several ranges orbit this color without landing on it. Here is the closest each brand manages, nearest first:
- Closest Humbrol equivalent: Humbrol Army Green, a swap nobody spots at arm's length (delta E 1.9).
- Best AK Interactive option: AK Interactive Light Green Uniform, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 2.5).
- From P3 Paints: P3 Paints Traitor Green, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.2).
- Citadel's closest color: Citadel Deathworld Forest, a near match with visible drift up close (delta E 3.8).
- Nearest in the Vallejo catalog: Vallejo Uniform Green, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 4.1).
- Best The Army Painter option: The Army Painter Woodland Camo, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 5.7).
We checked the Lab numbers for a hidden catch and there is none: lightness and temperature both line up, so this swap is as safe as they come.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
Humbrol
AK Interactive
P3 Paints
Citadel
Vallejo
The Army Painter
Monument Pro Acryl
Green Stuff World
Scale75
Revell
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Pairs well with
Try any paint in the scheme toolMatch difficulty
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Tamiya Olive Drab?
The closest same-finish match is Humbrol Army Green at 90% color similarity.
Is there a Citadel equivalent of Olive Drab?
Yes. The closest Citadel option is Deathworld Forest at 81%, a same-finish match.
What color is Olive Drab?
Olive Drab is a dark moderate brown with a cool undertone (hex #505828).
What do I highlight and shade Olive Drab with?
Highlight Olive Drab toward Indochina Green and shade it down into Dark Green, both Tamiya paints in the same finish family.