Healthcare Professionals
Next bathroom break, take a peek in the toilet. What color do you see?
Believe it or not, pee isn’t always “yellow.” There’s a whole range of colors that can show up in your urine — some are variations of normal, and some are a sign it’s time to talk to your doctor. So what’s your urine trying to tell you, and what should you do about it?
Urine color chart
Use this chart for a quick read on what each color usually means. Scroll down for the details on each one. You can also explore our interactive Know Your Urine color guide.
| Color | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Clear | Very well hydrated — possibly over-hydrated | Ease off fluids; if it stays clear, see a doctor |
| Pale straw to yellow | Normal and healthy | Nothing — this is the goal |
| Amber or honey | Dehydration | Drink more fluids |
| Orange | Dehydration, diet, B vitamins, or some medications | Hydrate; if it’s ongoing, call your doctor |
| Dark orange to brown | Liver issues, jaundice, or severe dehydration | Call your doctor |
| Fluorescent yellow/orange | B vitamins, foods, or some UTI medications | Usually harmless; if it persists, see a doctor |
| Pink to red | Foods like beets and berries — or blood in the urine | See a doctor if food isn’t the cause |
| Red, rust, or blood-tinged | Blood in the urine (hematuria); many possible causes | Call your doctor |
| Brown to black | Liver or kidney problems, hard exercise, foods, or meds | Talk to your doctor |
| Green or blue | Food dye, asparagus, B vitamins, some meds, or infection | See a doctor if it doesn’t pass quickly |
| Cloudy, foamy, or milky | Minerals, a UTI, excess protein, or a vaginal infection | See a doctor, especially with pain or urgency |
This chart is a general guide, not a diagnosis. Talk to your doctor if you have pain, frequency, or difficulty urinating, or if an unusual color lasts more than a day.
What each urine color means
Clear
Wow, you might be really, really hydrated. Unfortunately, it is possible to drink too much water, and overhydration can be a problem — when you take in excessive water, essential electrolyte levels in your blood can drop to dangerous, even fatal, levels. Pregnancy, medications (including diuretics), and medical conditions (like diabetes and kidney or liver issues) can also be linked to clear urine. If you’ve been over-drinking water, cut back and see if your urine returns to normal. If it stays consistently clear, check in with your doctor.
Pale straw to transparent yellow
If it’s yellow, you can feel mellow. See-through yellow — from pale straw to deeper, transparent shades — is considered the “normal” urine color. The intensity varies depending on how much water and other hydrating fluids you are (or are not) drinking. The more you hydrate, the more diluted the pigments become, resulting in a lighter color. But don’t overdo it (see “clear,” above).
Amber or honey
It might be time to hit the H2O. Amber, dark, or honey-colored urine can be a sign of dehydration. Try drinking more healthy liquids, and keep the weather and your activity level in mind — if it’s hot or you’re exerting yourself, you’ll need more fluids. If urine continues to be dark, talk to your doctor, as dark urine can also signal a medical concern.
Orange
Orange urine can be a sign of dehydration, but it may also come from food dyes, excess B vitamins, or liver or bile-duct problems. Certain medications — such as rifampin or the UTI pain reliever phenazopyridine — are also common causes. Try improving your hydration and cutting back on vitamins (unless they’re prescribed). If orange issues are ongoing, or come with pale stools or yellowing skin, give your doctor a call.
Dark orange, “brown ale,” or “syrup”
There are several possible reasons for dark orange or brown urine. It could be a symptom of a liver condition, jaundice, rhabdomyolysis, Gilbert syndrome, or severe dehydration. Get in touch with your healthcare provider to discuss what may be causing it and how to proceed.
Fluorescent yellow or orange
Things are looking interesting, huh? What have you been eating and drinking lately? Foods like beets and carrots, plus some vitamin supplements and medications (including UTI treatments), can cause vivid hues. Your hydration status can be a factor too, so make sure you’re drinking enough fluids. If the bright color continues, reach out to your doctor — bright yellow or orange urine can occasionally be an early sign of a liver issue that needs professional diagnosis.
Pink
OK, don’t freak out. Certain foods — carrots, blackberries, blueberries, beets, and rhubarb — can turn urine a pinkish-red color. It’s also possible to have blood in your urine, which could be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), a kidney or prostate problem, or a tumor. Some medications can cause pink or red urine, too. Don’t panic — but do talk to your doctor if you don’t think food is the cause, or if the color continues.
Red, blood-tinged, or rust-colored
As above, pink or red urine can be due to blood in the urine, also called hematuria. This has many possible causes — some minor, some not. Think about the foods you’ve been eating (see “pink,” above). If food isn’t a likely cause, a doctor will consider kidney stones, infections (especially urinary tract infections), tumors, or other conditions. Long-distance running can sometimes cause blood in the urine, too. Short answer: call your doctor about red urine. You’ll be glad you did.
Brown, dark brown, or black
Brown or black urine can signal something serious, like a liver or kidney problem. Extreme exercise, or eating large amounts of fava beans, rhubarb, or aloe, may also cause brown or cola-colored urine, and some medicines can darken it. More concerning, this discoloration can occasionally be caused by poisoning or melanoma. These are colors you’ll definitely want to talk to your doctor about.
Green or blue
Seeing green or blue in the toilet is probably pretty shocking. First thought — do you have a kid in the house playing jokes? No? Then consider whether you’re eating artificial coloring in foods or medicines, bingeing on asparagus, or taking excess B vitamins. Each can turn urine green or blue. Certain medications and dyes used in medical tests can do it too, and — more rarely — a bacterial infection in the urinary tract. Let your doctor know if the color doesn’t go away after a short time.
White, cloudy, foamy, or milky
Cloudy, murky, foamy, or milky urine can have a few causes. There may be too many minerals (such as calcium or phosphate) in your system, or you may have a UTI or excess protein in your urine. Other causes include bacterial vaginosis, a yeast infection, kidney stones, or another urinary-tract or kidney condition. Painful urination, reduced flow, or a stronger urge to go are all things your doctor should know about.
And purple?
Good news, and no need to blame mom’s eggplant parmesan: in everyday life there’s essentially no such thing as purple urine. (A rare exception called “purple urine bag syndrome” can occur in some catheterized patients — but that’s one for the doctor.)
When to see a doctor
There’s so much more to urine than most of us ever think about — and thankfully, most of the time we’re peeing pale yellow and feeling good about it. If things get more colorful than that, don’t hesitate to get insight and care from a trained medical professional, especially when an unusual color lasts more than a day or comes with pain, urgency, fever, or blood.
Wondering if you have a UTI? Review the usual UTI symptoms here, and remember that the only effective cure is a prescription antibiotic. While you wait to see your doctor, you can help relieve the pain and slow the infection with the over-the-counter Cystex Urinary Pain Relief Tablets. As a bonus, Cystex won’t change the color of your urine, as some other UTI treatments may.