Color Palette Generator
Expand one brand color into complementary, analogous, triadic, shade, and tint harmonies.
Generate harmonious color palettes instantly. Free palette generator with complementary, analogous, triadic schemes plus tints and shades.
Calculator Inputs
About Color Palette
Expand one brand color into complementary, analogous, triadic, shade, and tint harmonies.
Enter a base hex to get five harmony rows computed on the HSL wheel: the direct complement, ±30° analogous neighbors, ±120° triadic partners, darkening shades, and desaturating tints. Every swatch is listed as copy-ready hex.
Harmonies guarantee hue relationships, not taste — test combinations for contrast (text needs ~4.5:1) before shipping. Everything runs in your browser.
Where it is used
Website themes, logo systems, slide decks, and data-viz series that need guaranteed harmony.
How to use the Color Palette
- Base Color (hex) — enter the value (e.g. 3b82f6).
- Calculate — press the Calculate button to see the result instantly above.
Formula
HSL wheel math: complement +180°, analogous ±30°, triadic ±120°, lightness ramps.
Examples
Example
Frequently Asked Questions
- When do I use complementary vs analogous?
- Complementary (opposites) for energy and CTAs; analogous (neighbors) for calm, cohesive surfaces. Triadic suits playful three-accent systems.
- Why HSL math instead of eyeballing?
- Equal hue steps keep perceived relationships consistent. Eyeballed palettes drift — math keeps the wheel honest.
- Do harmonies guarantee accessibility?
- No. Run every text/background pair through a contrast checker; harmony and legibility are independent properties.