Color Palette Generator

Generate beautiful color palettes from any base color using harmony rules — complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic, and shades — with live swatches and copy-ready CSS variables.


  

  
  

    
  



    

    

      
Generate a beautiful, coordinated color palette from a single base color with this free color palette generator. Pick or paste any hex value, choose a color harmony rule — complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic, or shades — and instantly get five matching colors as live swatches plus copy-ready CSS variables. Hit the random button to explore fresh schemes, all computed privately in your browser.

      

        
What is a color palette generator?

        
A color palette generator turns one base color into a set of colors that look good together by applying classic color-theory harmony rules. Instead of guessing which colors match, you pick a starting color and a harmony — like complementary or analogous — and the tool calculates the rest by rotating the hue and adjusting lightness on the color wheel. The result is a ready-to-use scheme for websites, UI design, branding, illustrations, or any project that needs colors that work as a group.

        
      

      

        
How to generate a color palette

        
Build a matching color scheme in seconds. Everything updates live as you change the color or harmony.

        
  1. Pick a base color with the swatch or paste a hex value such as #4f46e5.
  2. Choose a harmony rule: complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic, or shades.
  3. Review the live swatches and their hex codes.
  4. Click Random color to explore new starting points.
  5. Click Copy palette to grab the CSS variables for your project.

      

      

        
Color harmony rules explained

        
Each harmony picks colors from a different position on the color wheel. Complementary uses the opposite hue for high contrast. Analogous uses neighboring hues for a calm, cohesive look. Triadic and tetradic spread three or four evenly spaced hues for balanced, vibrant schemes. Monochromatic keeps a single hue and varies only the lightness, while Shades steps the same color from light to dark.

        
      

      

        
Why use this color palette generator?

        
  • Six harmony rules: complementary, analogous, triadic, tetradic, monochromatic, and shades.
  • Live swatches with hex codes update instantly as you choose colors.
  • Random button generates fresh palettes to spark ideas.
  • Copy-ready CSS variables you can drop straight into your stylesheet.
  • Accepts a color picker or a typed hex value, with 3- or 6-digit hex.
  • 100% free and private — everything runs in your browser.

      

      

        
Frequently asked questions

        

          
What is a color harmony?

          
A color harmony is a rule for choosing colors that look pleasing together based on their positions on the color wheel. Common harmonies include complementary (opposite hues), analogous (neighboring hues), and triadic (three evenly spaced hues). This generator applies the harmony you pick to your base color to build a matching palette.

        

        

          
What is the difference between complementary and analogous palettes?

          
Complementary palettes pair a color with the hue directly opposite it on the wheel, creating strong contrast that's great for highlights and calls to action. Analogous palettes use colors that sit next to each other, giving a softer, more unified feel that works well for backgrounds and gradients.

        

        

          
How do I use the generated palette in CSS?

          
The tool outputs the palette as CSS custom properties like --color-1, --color-2, and so on. Paste them into a :root block in your stylesheet, then reference them anywhere with var(--color-1). You can also copy the individual hex codes shown under each swatch.

        

        

          
Can I get a random palette?

          
Yes. Click the Random color button to set a random base color, and the tool rebuilds the palette using your current harmony rule. It's a quick way to explore color schemes you might not have thought of.

        

        

          
Are my colors uploaded anywhere?

          
No. The entire palette is generated in your browser with JavaScript. Nothing about your colors is sent to a server, so it's safe to use for unreleased brand and design work.