What is the difference between NATO Green and US Olive Drab?

ΔE 7 (close). US Olive Drab is a little lighter, warmer. Swatch colours are estimates.

NATO Green vs US Olive Drab

NATO Green

Brand: AMMO by Mig
Range: ATOM
Code: ATOM-20066
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #3a4530 (estimate)

US Olive Drab

Brand: Vallejo
Range: Model Color
Code: 70.887
Type: an opaque base/layer paint
Swatch: #4c4e3d (estimate)

How close are they?

ΔE 6.9, close: similar, with a visible difference side by side. US Olive Drab is a little lighter, warmer than NATO Green.

Can I use US Olive Drab instead of NATO Green?

Usually, if you are not matching paint already on the model. Close match (ΔE 7). US Olive Drab is a little lighter, warmer than NATO Green.

Can I use NATO Green instead of US Olive Drab?

The same difference applies the other way round: NATO Green is a little darker, cooler.

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.

See NATO Green on the colour wheel See US Olive Drab on the colour wheel

Other Vallejo paints close to NATO Green

NATO Green vs Refractive Green (70.890)Model Color · ΔE 4, very close · closer than US Olive Drab
NATO Green vs Medium Olive (70.850)Model Color · ΔE 4, very close · closer than US Olive Drab
NATO Green vs Russian Unif. WWII (70.924)Model Color · ΔE 5, very close · closer than US Olive Drab

Other AMMO by Mig paints close to US Olive Drab

US Olive Drab vs Starship Filth (A.MIG-3513)Oilbrusher · ΔE 2, very close · closer than NATO Green
US Olive Drab vs Field Grey Shadow FS-34086 (AMMO.F-514)Acrylic Colors for Figures · ΔE 6, close · closer than NATO Green
US Olive Drab vs Matt Earth FS-34088 (AMMO.F-507)Acrylic Colors for Figures · ΔE 8, close

All matches: NATO Green equivalents · US Olive Drab equivalents