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.
Reference
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)
Analysis
Color intelligence
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Gamut
The full range of colors a device or space can show. sRGB is the common screen gamut; Display P3 is wider. A color outside a gamut cannot be shown accurately there and must be mapped inward.Full glossary entry →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
Undertone
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neutral, leaning warm
Nearest standard colors
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →
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Delta E (ΔE)
A measure of how different two colors look. Below 1 the difference is invisible to almost everyone; below 2.3 most people can't tell them apart; above 10 they are clearly different colors. We use CIEDE2000, the modern standard.Full glossary entry →- 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, and empty-state illustrations, but not text.
- Branding: Premium territory: beauty, creative tools, and boutique brands lean on this range.
Copy as: every ecosystem
Variations
Tints, shades, and tones of Purple
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →
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Tint
A color mixed with white, which raises its lightness. Pink is a tint of red. Tints feel softer and more open than the base color.Full glossary entry →Tints (lighter)
Shades (darker)
Harmonies
Color harmonies
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →
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Complementary colors
Two colors opposite each other on the wheel. They create the strongest contrast and make each other look more intense, so they work best used unevenly.Full glossary entry →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
Accessibility
Contrast & accessibility
Aa on white
contrast 9.42:1
AA pass AAA pass AA large pass
Aa on black
contrast 2.23:1
AA fail AAA fail AA large fail
Best text color on a Purple background: #ffffff
Palettes
Palettes featuring Purple
Purple with its complement
Soft neighbors of Purple
Purple triad
Explore
Similar colors
- Ultraberry #770088 · ΔE 2.9
- Noble Plum #871F78 · ΔE 4.4
- Extraviolet #661188 · ΔE 6.0
- Grapest #880066 · ΔE 6.6
- Purple Ink #9A2CA0 · ΔE 8.4
- Imperial #602F6B · ΔE 8.6
Looking for maximum contrast instead? The complement of Purple is closest to Deep Green .
FAQ
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.
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