Color Palette Generator
Generate monochromatic, analogous, complementary, triadic, or tetradic palettes from base colors and export them as code.
Runs 100% in your browser
Shortcuts
- Copy the output
- Alt + Shift + C
Your input is saved in this browser only. Reset clears it.
Controls
Color Palette(0 colors)
Base Colors(Your Input)
Quick Preview
Base Colors (Your Input)
How to use the Color Palette Generator
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Pick one or more base colors.
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Choose a color harmony such as complementary or triadic.
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Copy individual colors, export the whole palette, or copy a link to share it.
Example: A complementary palette from one base color
#3366cc
/* Base Colors (Your Input) */ #3366cc /* Primary Colors */ #2662d9 /* Secondary Colors */ #ebf0fa #c2d1f0 #99b2e6 #7094db /* Tertiary Colors */ #2952a3 #1f3d7a #142952 #0a1429
Primary, secondary, and tertiary map neatly onto brand color, supporting surfaces, and darker text or accents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a color palette in web design?
A color palette is a curated set of colors used consistently across a design or UI. A typical web palette includes a primary brand color, one or two accent colors, neutral background and text colors, and semantic colors for success, warning, and error states.
What are color harmony rules?
Color harmony rules are principles for combining colors that look visually balanced. Common schemes include: Complementary (two colors opposite on the wheel — high contrast), Analogous (three adjacent colors — calm and cohesive), Triadic (three evenly-spaced colors — vibrant and balanced), and Monochromatic (tints and shades of one hue).
How do I export a color palette for use in code?
DevBottle's Color Palette Generator can export your palette as CSS custom properties (variables), Tailwind configuration JSON, or individual hex, RGB, and HSL values you can copy with one click. CSS custom properties are the recommended format for most web projects as they enable easy global theming.
How many colors should a UI color palette have?
A typical UI palette has 5–10 colors: one primary brand color with light and dark variants, one or two accent colors, two to three neutral grays for background, surface, border, and text, plus three or four semantic colors (success, warning, error, info). Fewer, well-chosen colors create more visual consistency.
About the Color Palette Generator
The Color Palette Generator helps you create harmonious color schemes for your web projects, graphic designs, and UI/UX work. Using color theory principles, this tool generates balanced palettes based on your selected base colors and color harmony rules.
The full process from one brand color to CSS variables is in How to Create a Website Color Palette in 5 Steps, and Color Theory for Developers explains why the harmony rules work.
Understanding Color Harmony
Color harmony refers to the theory of combining colors in a way that is pleasing to the eye. Our Color Palette Generator uses several established color harmony rules to create cohesive palettes:
Monochromatic
Uses variations in lightness and saturation of a single color. This creates a cohesive look that's easy to manage and always looks harmonious.
Analogous
Uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. This creates a serene and comfortable design that works well when you want a design that flows well.
Complementary
Uses colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. This creates a high-contrast, vibrant look that can be very effective for drawing attention.
Triadic
Uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. This provides a vibrant palette even when using paler or unsaturated versions of your colors.
Split Complementary
Uses a base color and two colors adjacent to its complement. This provides strong visual contrast while being more sophisticated than a complementary scheme.
Square
Uses four colors evenly spaced around the color wheel. This creates a balanced, dynamic palette with rich variety.
Features of Our Color Palette Generator
- Multiple base colors - Start with one or more colors of your choice
- Various harmony rules - Choose from different color schemes to match your project's mood
- Expanded palettes - Get primary, secondary, and tertiary color variations
- Color code formats - Copy colors in HEX, RGB, or HSL format
- Accessibility checking - Verify that your colors meet WCAG contrast guidelines
- Palette export - Save your palette for use in design tools or code
How to Use the Color Palette Generator
- Select one or more base colors using the color picker
- Choose a color harmony rule (monochromatic, analogous, etc.)
- Adjust the generated palette if needed
- Copy individual colors or export the entire palette
- Use the colors in your web design, graphic design, or UI/UX projects
Color Palette Best Practices
The 60-30-10 Rule
A classic design principle for using color palettes effectively:
- 60% - Your dominant color (often a neutral or less saturated color)
- 30% - Your secondary color(s) for supporting elements
- 10% - Your accent color(s) for calls to action and highlights
Pro Tip
When designing for the web, consider creating an extended palette that includes not just your main colors, but also lighter and darker variations of each. This gives you flexibility for hover states, backgrounds, borders, and text while maintaining color harmony.
Color Palette Generator, Color Scheme Builder, and Color Combination Tool
Searching for a color scheme generator, a color combination tool, or an online color palette builder? This tool applies established color theory — not random combinations — to generate palettes that work together visually. Pick a base color and a harmony rule, and get primary, secondary, and tertiary colors ready to export as CSS variables or Tailwind config.
Export Formats
CSS Variables
Export as --color-primary custom properties. Paste into :root and reference everywhere in your stylesheet.
Tailwind Config
Drop the output directly into tailwind.config.js under theme.extend.colors for instant Tailwind classes.
HEX / RGB / HSL
Copy any individual color in the format you need — HEX for most tools, RGB for Canvas or SVG, HSL for dynamic manipulation.