★ Select your base color
Build a color palette from a single color
This free color palette generator turns one base color into a complete, balanced color scheme. Pick a starting color — type a HEX code, use the color picker, or hit Random — then choose a harmony method and the generator builds a matching palette using real color theory. Adjust the palette size, click any swatch to copy its code, or grab the whole set at once. Everything runs in your browser, with no signup.
It’s built for designers, developers, and marketers who need colors that actually work together: a website theme, a brand palette, a UI kit, a slide deck, or a moodboard.
How to use the color palette generator
- Set your base color. Click the large swatch to open the color picker, or type a HEX code (like
#3B82F6) into the field and apply it. Not sure where to start? Press Random for a fresh color, or pull one from a photo with our image color picker. - Choose a harmony method. Each card shows a live preview of that scheme built from your current color. Click one — complementary, analogous, triadic, and more — and the full palette updates instantly.
- Set the palette size. Drag the slider to choose how many colors you want, from a tight three-color scheme up to ten.
- Copy what you need. Click any swatch to copy its HEX code, or use Copy all to grab the entire palette at once for your stylesheet or design file.
Your base color is always marked with a star so you can see where the scheme started.
How it works: color harmony explained
Every scheme this tool builds comes from color theory — the relationships between colors on the color wheel. Behind the scenes, the generator converts your base color to its hue, saturation, and lightness, then rotates the hue by specific angles to find colors that complement it. Here’s what each method does and when to reach for it:
Complementary uses two colors directly opposite each other on the wheel (180° apart). The contrast is bold and high-energy — great for calls to action, sports brands, or anywhere you want one color to pop against another.
Analogous uses colors that sit next to each other on the wheel. The result feels calm and cohesive, since the colors share a common tone. It’s a safe, comfortable choice for backgrounds, nature themes, and gentle gradients.
Triadic spaces three colors evenly around the wheel (120° apart). It’s vibrant and balanced at the same time — playful without clashing — which makes it popular for illustrations and energetic brands.
Split complementary takes a base color and the two colors next to its complement. You keep the strong contrast of a complementary scheme but with less tension, which makes it more forgiving and versatile.
Square places four colors evenly around the wheel (90° apart), giving a rich, varied palette with built-in balance. It works well when you need several distinct accent colors.
Hexadic uses six colors at 60° intervals — the fullest spread around the wheel. It’s ideal when you want a complete, colorful system, like a category-coded dashboard or a bright editorial design.
Monochromatic keeps a single hue and varies its lightness. The effect is elegant and unified, perfect for minimal designs, UI shades, or when you want sophistication without distraction.
Accented analogous combines the calm of an analogous scheme with one contrasting accent color, so you get harmony plus a focal point — a common pattern in product and web design.
When you ask for more colors than a scheme naturally has, the generator fills the rest by varying lightness, so the palette stays cohesive instead of repeating.
Tips for building palettes that work
Start with a color you already love — a brand color, a favorite shade, or one pulled from a photo — rather than a random one, and the whole palette will feel intentional. For most websites and interfaces, a smaller palette (three to five colors) is easier to use consistently than a large one. And remember that a palette is only half the job: once you have your colors, check that text stays readable against your backgrounds with our contrast checker, since even a beautiful palette fails if people can’t read it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a color palette generator? It’s a tool that takes one base color and builds a set of colors that work well together, using color-theory relationships like complementary and analogous. It saves you from guessing which colors match.
How do I create a color palette from one color? Enter your base color, pick a harmony method, and the generator produces a matching scheme automatically. You can change the method or palette size until it feels right, then copy the codes.
What’s the difference between complementary and analogous colors? Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel and create strong contrast. Analogous colors sit next to each other and create a softer, more unified look. This tool builds both, plus several other schemes.
How many colors should a palette have? For most websites and brands, three to five colors are easiest to use well — usually a main color, one or two accents, and a neutral. Larger palettes suit dashboards or illustrations that need more variety.
Can I copy the colors as HEX codes? Yes. Click any swatch to copy its HEX value, or use Copy all to copy the entire palette at once, ready to paste into CSS or a design tool.
Is the color palette generator free? Yes — it’s completely free, needs no account, and runs entirely in your browser.
Can I make a palette from an image? Yes. Use our image color picker to pull a color out of any photo, then bring that HEX code here to build a full scheme around it.
