Are You Healthy? Find Out With This Urine Color Chart
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By
Tiff Perritt
Key Takeaways:
- The “normal” color of healthy urine falls between a pale yellow and a light straw color.
- Some commonly prescribed medications, vitamins, and foods, like beets or carrots, can temporarily alter the color of your urine.
- Certain urine colors may indicate a health condition, such as infection, bleeding, liver disease, or other urinary tract problems, which requires medical attention. Up to 18% of the population may have microscopic or visible blood in their urine.
The color of your urine may be trying to tell you something.
From dehydration to urinary tract infections (UTIs), your urine’s color is a window into your urinary system.
We spoke with Dr. Jason B. Carter, who is board-certified by the American Board of Urology, about the color of urine: “Pay attention to changes in urine color because it is one of the easiest health indicators our bodies provide, and can sometimes be the first sign that something deserves further attention.”
Read this post to learn what your urine says about your health and review our urine color chart.
What Color Is Healthy Urine?
Healthy urine is typically a pale yellow to light straw color. That yellow color comes from a natural pigment called urochrome, which is produced as your body breaks down old red blood cells.
In general, the lighter the yellow, the better hydrated you are.
The intensity of your urine color depends on its concentration. For instance, more concentrated urine is typically dark yellow, while diluted urine is pale yellow.
However, Dr. Carter warns that there are some caveats: “Completely clear urine isn’t necessarily healthier; it often simply means you’re drinking more fluid than your body needs. I usually tell patients to aim for a light lemonade color.”
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Colors of Urine & What They Mean
The color of your urine can reveal what medications you take, what your diet consists of, and even if you have a bacterial infection.
It can also point to other serious conditions, such as kidney disease, liver disease, and certain cancers.
“Fortunately, many color changes are completely harmless and temporary, particularly those related to foods, vitamins, or medications,” says Dr. Carter.
Did You Know? Certain foods can change the color of your urine. Beets can cause your urine to appear pink or reddish due to a condition called beeturia.
Clear
Clear urine usually indicates overhydration. When you drink too much water, you can cause your body to flush electrolytes from your system.
Try: Cutting back on your water intake to change your urine from clear to a healthy yellow.
Yellow
Pale yellow shades indicate a “normal” urine color.
It can also mean you have a healthy diet and urinary system. Bright yellow urine usually points to an excess of B vitamins, and dark yellow urine may indicate dehydration.
Try: If you’re concerned about your urine color, urinate into a clear cup to see which shade of yellow your urine is without the dilution of toilet water.
Orange
“Orange urine is most commonly caused by medications but can occasionally be associated with liver or bile duct disease,” states Dr. Carter.
In fact, even eating large amounts of carrots or drinking carrot juice can give urine an orange tint because of beta-carotene.
Try: If your urine is orange, consider drinking water to rehydrate. Contact your healthcare provider if your urine continues to look orange.
Pink / Red
Pink urine or reddish urine can be a side effect of certain medications. However, it can also signify medical conditions, such as:
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Kidney stones or tumors
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Porphyria
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Bladder stones or tumors
Some medical conditions that can cause pink urine or reddish urine are common in certain populations. Tumors of the bladder and kidney are more common in older people, and over 60% of new bladder cancer cases are found in people aged 75 and older.
Pink or red urine can also be caused by eating certain red or pink foods, such as rhubarb or beets.
Try: If you ever notice blood-colored urine, seek out medical care. It could be hematuria, which is when blood is found in your urine.
Blue / Green
Blue or green urine can be caused by foods that you eat, such as blueberries. It can also result from certain food dyes and additives.
In other cases, it can indicate medical conditions, such as a UTI or blue diaper syndrome (a rare genetic disorder where you cannot break down tryptophan in your digestive tract).
During surgeries, healthcare providers may also use dyes to turn your urine blue or green. In rare cases, blue or green pigments can reveal a bacterial infection or genetic disease.
Try: Drink fluids and change up your diet. If a blue or green color persists, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Brown
Brown or dark brown pee can be caused by medical conditions, certain foods (such as fava beans), intense exercise, liver issues, liver failure, and severe dehydration.
Significant muscle injury can even cause cola-colored urine due to the release of myoglobin. This is known as rhabdomyolysis.
Certain medications, such as iron supplements, laxatives that contain cascara, nitrofurantoin, chloroquine, metronidazole, and phenytoin, can also cause brown urine.
Try: Exercise at a lower intensity or take breaks in between. You can also try changing your diet. If brown or cola-colored urine is unexplained or persists despite drinking water, contact your doctor, particularly if accompanied by muscle pain, weakness, or jaundice.
Cloudy
If your urine is cloudy, it may point to signs of:
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A urinary tract infection
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Dehydration
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Kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD)
In some cases, cloudy urine may be accompanied by strong or foul-smelling urine.
Try: Drink water to see if the cloudiness or odor clears up. If it doesn't, see a healthcare provider.
| Urine Color | Hydration Status | Potential Causes & Meaning | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear | Overhydrated | Taking diuretics or drinking too much water. | Drink less water. |
| Yellow | Optimal to Mildly Dehydrated | Dark yellow urine may indicate concentrated waste from a lack of water. | Drink more water if your urine is a dark yellow. |
| Orange | Dehydrated | Food dyes, certain medications, liver issues, or excessive carrot consumption. | See a doctor if your urine is orange. |
| Pink / Red | N/A | Urinary tract infections, kidney stones, or certain foods. | See a doctor immediately, especially if you haven’t eaten any red foods. |
| Blue / Green | N/A | Food dyes, certain medications, or rare infections. | See a doctor if your urine is blue or green. |
| Brown | Severe Dehydration | Extreme dehydration, liver disease, or muscle tears. | Drink more water; you may be dehydrated. If your urine stays brown, see a doctor. |
| Cloudy | N/A | UTIs, kidney stones, or excess minerals. | See a doctor, especially if you experience any pain or burning. |
How Your Urinary System Works
Your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra are all part of your urinary system. Your urinary system plays a vital role in keeping your body healthy.
The kidneys, in particular, have many jobs, including:
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Filtering waste, water, and blood in the body
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Controlling production of your red blood cells
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Balancing your body’s fluids
When you eat food or drink liquids, your body absorbs the nutrients it needs and excretes waste through your bowels and kidneys.
Your kidneys filter waste products and excess water from the blood, which are then excreted from the body as urine.
Did You Know? Human urine is made up of about 3,000 components and is roughly 95% water.
What to Do if Your Urine Color Changes
If your urine is any color besides yellow, don’t panic.
The good news is that continuing to pay attention to changes in urine color can help you notice something more serious in your body that’s gone undetected.
Sometimes, different colors can be due to food dyes or medications. If you’re concerned about your urine color, see a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
Signs You Need to Seek Medical Care for Urine Color
If you experience “any unexplained urine discoloration that persists,” says Dr. Carter, “or any color change accompanied by pain, fever, difficulty urinating, or visible blood, [you] should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What color should urine be?
The color of healthy urine should typically be pale yellow to light straw.
Why do I have dark urine?
The most common cause of dark urine is dehydration. When you don’t drink enough fluids, your kidneys conserve water, making the urine more concentrated and darker in color. Other possible reasons your urine might be dark include medical conditions or certain medications.
Can beets change the color of your urine?
Yes, beets can cause urine to appear pink or reddish. This is a harmless phenomenon known as beeturia.
Does AZO change urine color?
Yes, AZO (phenazopyridine) commonly turns urine a vivid orange or reddish-orange color. This is an expected and harmless effect of the medication, although it can stain clothing, underwear, and even contact lenses.
Does Macrobid change urine color?
Yes, Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) may cause urine to become dark yellow, brown, or rust-colored in some patients. This is a recognized and generally harmless effect of the medication.
What color is pregnancy pee?
The typical color of normal urine is pale yellow, but it can range from light to dark yellow, regardless of pregnancy. Take a pregnancy test if you think you may be pregnant.
What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?
There is no specific urine color that indicates kidney failure. People with significant kidney disease may have urine that appears normal, while blood, protein, dehydration, or other conditions can sometimes cause urine to appear darker, red, brown, or foamy. Kidney function is best assessed with blood and urine testing rather than urine color alone.
About the Author
Tiff Perritt is the Content Writer at Aeroflow Urology. She writes with clarity and compassion on topics surrounding incontinence, aiming to help patients feel informed and supported. Driven by a strong interest in health equity, she supports efforts that promote education and access to incontinence care for underserved communities.
She earned her Bachelor's degree in Technical Communications from University of Houston - Downtown and her Associate's degree in English from Lee College. Her work has been featured by leading healthcare colleges and respected healthcare organizations across the country.
Outside of work, she loves to hike across the Texas landscape, try out new baking recipes, and spend time with her family.
Dr. Jason B. Carter
Dr. Jason B. Carter has been providing outstanding urologic care since 2003. He obtained his medical degree from East Tennessee State University and completed a residency at University Hospital and Clinics in Columbia, MO. He opened his private practice in the Greeneville, TN area in 2006.
Dr. Carter is board certified by the American Board of Urology. He is a member of the American Urological Association and the Tennessee Medical Association.
References:
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Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. (2026, June). Tryptophan malabsorption syndrome. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
Harvard Health Publishing. (2020, October 27). Rhabdo: A rare but serious complication of... exercise. Harvard Health.
Rich, M. W. (1999). Porphyria cutanea tarda. Don't forget to look at the urine. Postgraduate Medicine, 105(4), 208–214.
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