A Urine Color Chart to Explain Why Your Pee Is That Color

Normally, urine (pee) is a yellowish color ranging from almost clear to slightly orange. It tends to have a mild smell that’s unique to you.

Here’s what different urine colors and smells might mean about your health.

If your pee isn’t its normal color, there may be a perfectly benign explanation — or it could be a cause for concern. Here’s a breakdown of what different colors may mean.

Clear

“In states of excessive hydration, there can be a decrease in blood levels of sodium, which can have an impact on brain function,” says Michael Whalen, MD, chief of urologic oncology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.

Pale Yellow

“Ideally, urine should be clear or a pale yellow color. That means you’re well hydrated and everything is working properly,” says Jairam Eswara, MD, chief of urology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

Dark Yellow or Amber

Orange

Pink or Red

Red or pink urine could also mean there’s blood in your urine. “The most concerning appearance is when there’s blood in the urine, even if it’s just a little bit pink,” says Dr. Eswara.

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Prostate problems
• Kidney stones or cysts
• Kidney or bladder cancer
• Noncancerous tumors
• Lead or mercury poisoning

It’s also possible for menstrual blood to appear to cause red or pink urine, though the blood is actually coming from the uterus. “It’s important to distinguish whether it’s gynecologic bleeding or urologic bleeding” in women of reproductive age, says Dr. Whalen.

Blue or Green

Blue or green food dyes may color your urine because they can’t be absorbed by your body. The same is true for dyes used in certain kidney and bladder tests.

Brown or Dark Orange

At this level of dehydration, “you might notice that your mouth is dry, or you’re feeling kind of faint,” says Eswara. “If the brown color doesn’t improve with hydration, seek medical attention.”

Foods like fava beans, aloe, and rhubarb can also turn your urine brown.

Certain malaria medicines, antibiotics, laxatives containing senna, muscle relaxants, and statins can cause dark urine that may appear brown.

“Brown urine can indicate old blood from somewhere in the urinary tract,” says Whalen, and should prompt a doctor visit if it persists.

Dark Brown or Black

Dark brown urine can occur if you’ve been eating a lot of foods that can turn urine brown, such as fava beans, aloe, and rhubarb.

Cloudy

Normal urine has a slight smell that varies from person to person. Foods and spices, medications, vitamin supplements, and medical conditions can all make your urine smell different.

Foul-smelling pee can be a sign of a bacterial infection, such as a urinary tract infection. Musty-smelling urine can indicate liver disease or certain metabolic disorders.

“A metallic smell from the iron in hemoglobin can indicate the presence of blood,” says Whalen, and may occur along with color changes that indicate blood in urine.

You should contact your doctor if you have any concerns about changes in your urine or if a change in your urine persists.

If your doctor suspects blood in your urine, part of testing your urine sample will most likely be a culture to check for infection. “If the culture comes back negative but there’s evidence of blood in the urine, then it typically triggers referral to a urologist,” says Whalen.

In this case, Whalen says, your urologist will check for signs of a more serious condition, like a tumor, and may use imaging such as an ultrasound or a CT scan.

• Changes in urine color could mean you’re dehydrated, or they may be caused by certain foods, medications, or medical conditions.
• Any lasting changes in urine color or smell could indicate a health condition that may require diagnosis and treatment.
• See a doctor right away if you experience signs of blood in your urine, or if you experience other symptoms like discomfort while urinating, fever, or back pain.