The color of your urine can offer clues about your hydration, diet, medications, and sometimes your health. While occasional color changes are often harmless, persistent or unexplained changes can warrant medical evaluation.
| Urine Color | What It May Mean |
|---|---|
| Pale yellow to light gold | Usually normal and indicates good hydration. |
| Dark yellow or amber | Often a sign of dehydration. Drinking more fluids may help if you don’t have a medical reason to restrict fluids. |
| Clear | You may be very well hydrated or drinking more water than necessary. |
| Orange | Can result from dehydration, certain medications, or foods. It may also occasionally indicate a liver or bile duct problem, especially if accompanied by pale stools or yellowing of the skin or eyes. |
| Pink or red | May be caused by foods such as beets, blackberries, or rhubarb, but it can also indicate blood in the urine, which should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. |
| Brown or tea-colored | May occur with severe dehydration, certain medications, muscle injury, or liver disease. |
| Blue or green | Rare; can be caused by certain medications, food dyes, or, less commonly, some infections or inherited conditions. |
| Cloudy or milky | May be due to crystals, dehydration, or a Urinary tract infection, especially if accompanied by pain or burning during urination. |
When to seek medical care
Contact a healthcare professional if you notice:
- Red or cola-colored urine that isn’t explained by food.
- Persistent dark brown urine.
- Cloudy urine with fever, pain, or burning.
- Blood in the urine, even if it occurs only once.
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes along with dark urine.
- Persistent changes in urine color without an obvious cause.
Keep in mind that some foods (such as beets and asparagus), vitamins (especially B vitamins), and medications can temporarily change urine color. If you’re unsure whether a change is normal, a healthcare professional can help determine whether testing is needed.
