Can I export the palette?

Copy individual hex values from the swatches. Some browsers also let you screenshot the palette for reference.

What harmony should I pick?

Complementary pairs give strong contrast. Analogous sets feel calm and unified. Triadic schemes add variety while staying balanced; try each and compare.

Are colours accessible for text?

Use the Contrast Checker tool on ToolzWorx to verify text/background pairs meet WCAG guidelines before shipping UI.

How many colours should a UI theme include?

Start with a primary, one or two accents, and a neutral ladder for text and surfaces. Extra decorative hues can wait until roles are solid.

Should my logo colour become body text?

Not automatically. Many logo hues fail contrast on white at small sizes. Derive darker text variants and keep the vivid brand colour for emphasis.

Can I use this for interior paint ideas?

Yes as a starting mood board, but always sample real paint in your lighting. Screens and paint chips rarely match exactly.

Color Palette Generator

Pick a starting colour and generate balanced palette variations for interfaces, branding, and mood boards. Switch harmony modes to explore complementary, analogous, triadic, and related schemes without opening desktop software.

Copy hex values into CSS, Figma, or a style guide when you need a quick starting point. For text on coloured backgrounds, follow up with the Contrast Checker so accessibility stays part of the palette decision.

Base colorHarmony mode

Tip: click a swatch to copy its hex code.

About Color Palette Generator

What this tool does

The Color Palette Generator builds harmonious colour schemes from a base hue using standard colour-theory relationships: complementary, analogous, triadic, and more.

Designers and developers use it to pick UI themes, brand colours, and decor accents without opening desktop software.

A strong palette usually has one dominant colour, one or two supporting hues, and a neutral for text or backgrounds. Generate candidates here, then test the strongest pairs in the Contrast Checker before shipping buttons, links, or body copy.

For a full accessible-colour workflow covering roles, WCAG checks, and gradients, see the guide on building an accessible colour system for UI.

How to use it

1Pick a starting colour with the colour picker or enter a hex code.
2Choose a harmony mode (complementary, analogous, triadic, etc.).
3Review the generated swatches and copy hex codes you want to keep.
4Lock a swatch and regenerate if the tool supports fixing one colour while refreshing others.
5Paste codes into your CSS, design file, or mood board.
6Assign roles (primary, accent, muted background) so the set stays consistent across screens.
7Verify text and UI pairs in the Contrast Checker before you ship.

Practical tips

Name tokens by role (`primary`, `text`, `surface`) instead of leaving a pile of unnamed hex values.
Saturated brand colours often fail as small body text. Keep them for buttons and large headings.
Complementary pairs pop; analogous sets feel calmer for long-reading UIs.
Keep the core set small so the system stays obvious to teammates.

Frequently asked questions

Can I export the palette?: Copy individual hex values from the swatches. Some browsers also let you screenshot the palette for reference.
What harmony should I pick?: Complementary pairs give strong contrast. Analogous sets feel calm and unified. Triadic schemes add variety while staying balanced; try each and compare.
Are colours accessible for text?: Use the Contrast Checker tool on ToolzWorx to verify text/background pairs meet WCAG guidelines before shipping UI.
How many colours should a UI theme include?: Start with a primary, one or two accents, and a neutral ladder for text and surfaces. Extra decorative hues can wait until roles are solid.
Should my logo colour become body text?: Not automatically. Many logo hues fail contrast on white at small sizes. Derive darker text variants and keep the vivid brand colour for emphasis.
Can I use this for interior paint ideas?: Yes as a starting mood board, but always sample real paint in your lighting. Screens and paint chips rarely match exactly.

Related guide

Dig deeper in Build an accessible colour system for UI (palette to contrast). Choose brand colours, check WCAG contrast, and ship gradients that still keep text readable across buttons, body copy, and dark mode.

Or browse all ToolzWorx guides.

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