Purple

Also known as: Philippine Violet, Mardi Gras, Aunt Violet, Violaceous Greti

As a rich take on pink, Purple carries gentle and approachable energy that suits children's products and soft backgrounds. A green counterpart from the complementary harmony gives it the most tension. On white it reads clearly at 9.42:1 contrast — safe for body text under WCAG AA.

Purple color codes

HEX
#800080
RGB
rgb(128, 0, 128)
RGBA
rgba(128, 0, 128, 1)
HSL
hsl(300, 100%, 25%)
HSV
hsv(300, 100%, 50%)
CMYK
cmyk(0%, 100%, 0%, 50%)
LAB
lab(29.7 56.1 -36.3)
OKLCH
oklch(42.1% 0.193 328.4)

Color intelligence

sRGB safeShifts in CMYK print

Displays accurately on every screen. Vivid colors like this typically lose some intensity in CMYK print — request a physical proof for brand-critical work.

Temperature

CoolWarm

neutral, leaning warm

Nearest standard colors

  • CSS: purple#800080 · ΔE 0.0
  • RAL 4006 — Traffic purple#992572 · ΔE 9.4 · approximate

RAL values are widely published approximations of the physical standard. For Pantone-adjacent workflows, match by eye against a physical fan deck — Pantone's values are proprietary and device-dependent, so we don't print lookups.

Where Purple works

  • Web & UI: Dark enough for body text and icons on white backgrounds — it passes WCAG AA as-is.
  • Interiors: Strong for a whole room, excellent in doses: an accent wall, cabinetry, or a statement chair.
  • Fashion: Wears best as the statement piece — a top, scarf, or shoes — against neutral basics.
  • Branding: High-energy brand material: strong for food, fitness, and youth-facing marks — use sparingly in UI.
  • Web & UI: A supporting-cast color for UI: chart fills, tags, empty-state illustrations — not text.
  • Branding: Premium territory: beauty, creative tools, and boutique brands lean on this range.

Copy as — every ecosystem

Tints, shades, and tones of Purple

Tints (lighter)

Shades (darker)

Tones (muted)

Color harmonies

Palettes built from Purple by rotating its hue in OKLCH space. Click any swatch to copy its hex code.

Complementary

Analogous

Triadic

Split-complementary

Tetradic

Monochromatic

Contrast & accessibility

Aa — on white

contrast 9.42:1

AA passAAA passAA large pass

Aa — on black

contrast 2.23:1

AA failAAA failAA large fail

Best text color on a Purple background: #ffffff

Palettes featuring Purple

Purple with its complement

Soft neighbors of Purple

Purple triad

Similar colors

Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Purple is closest to Deep Green.

Purple FAQs

What color is Purple?

Purple is a dark pink with the hex code #800080. In HSL terms it has a hue of 300°, 100% saturation, and 25% lightness.

What is the hex code for Purple?

The hex code for Purple is #800080. In RGB it's rgb(128, 0, 128), and in CMYK it's cmyk(0%, 100%, 0%, 50%).

What colors go well with Purple?

Purple pairs naturally with green tones from its complementary harmony, and with yellow accents from its split-complementary palette. Its own tints and shades always work as a monochrome scheme.

Got a photo with a color like this? Identify it with the analyzer — free, instant, private.