Generate a 5-color palette from one color with 6 harmony rules, lock swatches and regenerate the rest, check WCAG contrast, and export CSS variables, a Tailwind config or JSON, all in your browser.
By Mubeen Khan · Last reviewed 2026-11-05
Your base plus the color opposite it on the wheel: bold, high contrast.
Click a swatch to copy it.
Press the spacebar to regenerate the unlocked colors.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Contrast ratio: 5.17:1
✓ AA normal text (4.5:1): Pass✓ AA large text (3:1): Pass✗ AAA normal text (7:1): Fail✓ AAA large text (4.5:1): Pass
Privacy: palettes are built on your device. Nothing is uploaded, stored or sent to any server.
A color palette is a small set of colors that work together, and it is what makes a website, a brand or a presentation look intentional instead of random. This generator builds one for you from a single base color: pick a color with the picker or type a HEX value, choose a harmony rule, and you get a 5-color palette instantly. Everything runs in your browser, so there is no upload, no account and no watermark, and every color is one click away from being copied as HEX, RGB or HSL.
The six harmony rules come from the color wheel, and each one fits a different job. Complementary pairs your base with the color opposite it on the wheel for bold, high-contrast designs. Analogous uses neighbors on the wheel for calm, cohesive schemes. Triadic spaces three colors evenly around the wheel for vibrant balance, split-complementary softens the contrast of a complementary pair, tetradic uses two complementary pairs for rich, varied schemes, and monochromatic stays on one hue and varies lightness for clean, minimal looks. Lock any swatch you like and press regenerate (or the spacebar) to reshuffle only the unlocked colors, and start from one of 8 curated palettes like sunset, ocean or royal when you want inspiration.
A palette is only useful if text on it can actually be read, so the built-in WCAG contrast checker lets you pick any palette color as a background and any text color, then shows the exact contrast ratio and whether it passes AA and AAA for normal and large text. When the palette is ready, export it as CSS variables to paste into a stylesheet, as a Tailwind config snippet with 100 to 500 steps, as JSON for design tokens, or as a plain HEX list, or download the whole palette as a .css or .json file.
Frequently asked questions
What is a color palette generator?
It is a tool that builds a set of colors that work well together, starting from one base color you choose. This one uses color harmony rules from the color wheel to produce a 5-color palette, and every color can be copied as HEX, RGB or HSL, or exported as CSS variables, a Tailwind config or JSON.
What is the difference between complementary, analogous and triadic palettes?
Complementary pairs a color with the one opposite it on the color wheel, which gives strong contrast. Analogous uses colors next to each other on the wheel, which looks calm and cohesive. Triadic picks three colors spaced evenly around the wheel, which is vibrant but still balanced. The generator also offers split-complementary, tetradic and monochromatic rules.
How do I generate a color palette from one color?
Enter your base color with the color picker or a HEX value, then pick a harmony rule like complementary or triadic. The tool builds a 5-color palette from that base instantly. Lock any colors you want to keep, then press regenerate or the spacebar to reshuffle only the unlocked swatches until the palette looks right.
How do I check contrast and WCAG compliance?
Use the contrast checker: pick a palette color as the background and a text color, and the tool shows the exact contrast ratio plus AA and AAA pass or fail for normal and large text. WCAG AA needs a ratio of at least 4.5 to 1 for normal text and 3 to 1 for large text, while AAA needs 7 to 1 for normal text and 4.5 to 1 for large text.
How do I export my palette to CSS or Tailwind?
Open the export panel and copy the CSS variables block to paste into any stylesheet, copy the Tailwind config snippet to extend your theme colors with 100 to 500 steps, or copy the JSON for design tokens. You can also download the palette as a .css or .json file, or copy the plain HEX list.
Is this color palette generator free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it is completely free and there is no signup, no account and no upload. All palettes are generated on your device in the browser, so your colors never leave your computer.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates for planning purposes only and are not financial advice. Actual loan terms, taxes and investment returns vary. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
