The standard color of urine is referred to as “urochrome.” Urine color, odor, and consistency reflect your health and lifestyle. Urine color is also an indication of health issues that you might not know of. Urine is 95% water; the remaining is a complex brew that includes chloride, urea, creatinine, and other inorganic and organic compounds.
The natural yellow color results from urobilin, which is generated from the breakdown of old red blood cells. Urine has a natural yellow color close to transparent when a person is hydrated. If you are dehydrated, the color changes to a dark brown.
Darker pigments in the urine may represent the pigments in the food, drink, or medicine you had. If you are wondering what the color of my pee means, then our pee color chart will tell you all you need to know.
Normal Urine Color Chart
Urine color is also essential in assessing whether you are consuming enough water. The more fluids you drink, the clearer your urine; pale yellow to clear is a healthy urine color and a sign of good health.
A dark yellow urine color means that you should increase fluids in your diet. The female urine color chart and men’s urine color chart have the same indications as the standard chart below.
Consult the NHS urine color chart below to know more about your health. We summarize the various urine colors in the form of a printable urine color chart that you can carry with you when traveling.
Urine Color Chart And Meaning
| Color | Food related cause | Medical related cause |
|---|---|---|
| Pale yellow | Ideal diet | No problem |
| Dark yellow | Less fluids in diet | Dehydration |
| Dark brown | Carrots or carrot juice | Problems with liver or bile duct Dehydration |
| Pink | Blackberries Beets Rhubarb | Infection in the bladder or kidney Tumor Internal injury |
| Red | Black berries Beets Rhubarb | Hematuria Internal injury Tumor Kidney stone |
| Green | Asparagus Medication Food dyes | Urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Dyes in medical tests |
| Blue | Medication Food dyes | Blue diaper syndrome Dyes in medical tests |
| Black | Food dyes | Melanuria |
| Milky | Anchovies Herring Red meat | Sexually transmitted infection (STI) UTI Kidney stones Vaginitis Prostatitis |
Pale yellow to light yellow color: A pale, light, odorless and plentiful urine reflects that you are well hydrated, but it is still essential to keep drinking.
Darker color: A slightly dark yellow urine indicates that you need to drink more water.
Darker urine color): Dark brown concentrated, smelling urine in small amounts reflects that you are seriously dehydrated so have a bottle of water. A darker color may also appear after a workout, or it can also indicate kidney stones.
Pink: The food you eat can also change the color of your urine; for example, when you eat blueberries, rhubarb, or beets, you may notice a pinkish hue in your urine.
Red: This is a sign of blood in the urine called hematuria and can also be a sign of a kidney stone, tumor, or infection. There are so many possibilities, and you should immediately visit a physician.
Green: Green urine can be a sign of a bacterial infection. Eating asparagus, some medications, and food dyes can also have the same effect on urine color.
Blue: A rare metabolic disorder known as hypercalcemia (blue diaper syndrome) can cause this. Some food dyes and medication can also have the same effect.
Dark brown or black: Eating large amounts of fava beans, aloe and rhubarb can cause this. Some medication also darkens the urine, but it’s nothing to worry about. However, if you are experiencing blackish urine called Melania, it may indicate phenol poisoning, and you should visit a doctor immediately.
Milky: Overconsumption of minerals like calcium or phosphate and urinary tract infection may cause milky urine color.
Dehydration Urine Color Chart
Human urine color is pale yellow which indicates you’re hydrated. The darker the color gets, the more concentrated it becomes, indicating dehydration. If you are experiencing a darker color, then you should immediately hydrate.
The darker the color, the more you should consume water and other fluids. When dehydrated, avoid alcoholic beverages to hydrate as they may affect your kidneys. For urine test color results, consult the chart below.
| Color | Indication |
|---|---|
| Clear to pale yellow | Well hydrated |
| Light/ transparent yellow | Ideally hydration level |
| Darker yellow | You should hydrate |
| A cloudier yellow | You should to hydrate |
| Medium dark yellow | Need more fluids |
| Amber color | Dehydrated |
| Orange/yellow | Very dehydrated |
| Red/brown | Seriously dehydrated |
Also read: Stool Color Chart
Pregnancy Urine Color Chart
A home urine test is what breaks down most women about their pregnancies. If you notice blood in urine, it should be worrisome, and immediately visit your doctor. In pregnancy, the urine may look cloudy, get a strong odor, and, in some cases, may even have a tinge of blood.
All these are signs of UTI as per the ACOG. Pregnant women need to hydrate more than usual; if urine is darker and more concentrated, this may indicate dehydration. For more information, consult the pee color scale below.
| Urine Color | Representation |
|---|---|
| Dark yellow | Dehydration |
| Brown | DehydrationVitamins and iron supplements |
| Red | Implantation bleedingVaginal bleedingPap smearInfection |
| Cloudy | UTIDehydration |
Kidney Failure Urine Color Chart
Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys stop removing waste, excess fluids, minerals, and other wastes from the blood.
When harmful products remain in the body, it changes the appearance of the urine and its frequency. Look at the clues below to determine whether you are suffering from kidney failure.
| Symptoms | Representation |
|---|---|
| Dark brown | Kidney failure Kidney diseases Buildup of waste products |
| Red | Buildup of waste products |
| Purple | Buildup of waste products |
| Urinating less | Kidney failure |
| Foaming | Protein buildup Kidney failure |
| Frizzing | Protein buildup Kidney failure |
Diabetes Urine Color Chart
Diabetes is a disease in which the body doesn’t make enough insulin, resulting in high blood sugar. Kidneys filter out the excess sugar through urine. Urine color and smell can indicate diabetes, so look closely for the following symptoms.
| Symptom | Indication |
|---|---|
| Dark yellow | Dehydration Sugar buildup |
| Cloudy | Presence of sugar buildup |
| Sweet smell or fruity | Presence of sugar buildup |
| Urinating often | Presence of sugar buildup |
FAQs
What Colour pee should I worry about?
A yellow to dark yellow color is standard, but a dark orange and brown would mean you are dehydrated. If you are experiencing dark brown, red, black, blue, or milky pee, you should worry as it’s an abnormal color and an ominous sign of health.
What color is abnormal pee?
Men’s urine color ranges from pale to dark yellow and is healthy and normal; you need to continue hydrating as you do. However, dark brown, red, blue, black, or milky are all abnormal pee colors. The abnormal pee colors usually indicate diseases, so it’s wise to visit a doctor if you experience any.
Conclusion
Mariam Shor says that eating good food is life’s greatest joy. You can avoid diabetes, kidney diseases, and others if you use good eating habits and drink plenty of water.
Remember to hydrate yourself on a hot day and stay indoors. However, consult our pee color chart above if you notice any abnormal urine coloring.