Color Palette Generator Online
Generate beautiful color palettes from any base color. Choose from complementary, analogous, triadic, split-complementary, tetradic, or monochromatic harmonies. Copy hex codes instantly. No signup, browser-based.
How to Generate a Color Palette
- 1Pick a base color using the color picker or type a hex code directly.
- 2Choose a color harmony type — complementary, analogous, triadic, and more.
- 3Click any swatch or the Copy button next to a color card to copy its hex code.
- 4Click Copy All Hex Codes to copy all five colors to your clipboard at once.
Color Theory Fundamentals
Color harmonies are based on the relationships between hues on the color wheel. The tool uses HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) math to generate harmonically related colors. Each harmony type produces a different emotional and visual effect — complementary creates contrast and energy, analogous creates calm unity, and monochromatic creates subtlety and elegance.
Color Palette Tips for Designers
60-30-10 Rule
Use your dominant color for 60% of the design, a secondary for 30%, and an accent for 10%. This creates balance without monotony.
Check Contrast
Always verify that text colors have sufficient contrast against backgrounds. WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for body text, 3:1 for large text.
Start with Brand Color
If you have a fixed brand color, enter it as the base and let the generator suggest harmonious supporting colors that work with it.
Monochromatic for UI
Monochromatic palettes work well for subtle UI components — cards, borders, disabled states — where you want visual hierarchy without color distraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a complementary color palette?
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They create high contrast and visual tension — good for call-to-action buttons and accents where you want something to stand out against the background.
When should I use an analogous palette?
Analogous colors are adjacent on the color wheel (30–60° apart). They create a harmonious, cohesive look with low contrast. Good for backgrounds, illustrations, and designs where you want a unified, calming feel rather than high contrast.
What is the difference between triadic and split-complementary?
Triadic uses three colors equally spaced on the wheel (120° apart) — high contrast and vibrant. Split-complementary uses a base color and the two colors adjacent to its complement — slightly less contrast than triadic but more visual interest than complementary.
How do I use these palettes in CSS?
Copy the hex codes and use them as CSS color values directly. For example: background-color: #667eea; color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #764ba2. CSS custom properties make it easy to manage a palette: --color-primary: #667eea;
Are the generated colors accessible?
Color accessibility depends on contrast ratio between foreground and background colors. WCAG AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text. Use a contrast checker tool to verify any foreground/background combination from your palette before using it for text.