Dark Olive Green vs Medium Olive

How close are they?

ΔE 10.5, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Medium Olive is noticeably lighter, cooler than Dark Olive Green.

Can I use Medium Olive instead of Dark Olive Green?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). Medium Olive is noticeably lighter, cooler than Dark Olive Green.

Can I use Dark Olive Green instead of Medium Olive?

The same difference applies the other way round: Dark Olive Green is noticeably darker, warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.