Color Harmony Generator
Pick one base color and see all seven harmony schemes at once. Compare complementary, analogous, triadic, and more side by side, then copy any hex.
Updated
Complementary
Base + opposite — strong contrastAnalogous
Neighbouring hues — calm and cohesiveTriadic
Three evenly spaced — vibrant balanceSplit-Complementary
Contrast with less tensionTetradic
Two complementary pairs — richSquare
Four evenly spaced huesMonochromatic
One hue, varied lightnessHow to use Color Harmony Generator
Enter a single base color and instantly see all seven classic color-harmony schemes built around it — complementary, analogous, triadic, split-complementary, tetradic, square, and monochromatic. Every scheme is derived from fixed hue angles on the color wheel, so the results are mathematically consistent rather than guesswork. Compare them side by side, then copy any hex code for use in CSS, design tools, or brand systems. Everything runs in your browser with nothing uploaded.
- Pick a base color with the color picker or type a hex value.
- Scan the seven harmony sections generated from that base color.
- Compare schemes — complementary for contrast, analogous for cohesion.
- Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
- Apply the 60-30-10 rule when assigning the colors to your design.
Your data never leaves your device — 100% private processing.
How each harmony scheme is built
Every scheme keeps the base hue and adds others at fixed angles on the 360° color wheel. Complementary adds 180°. Analogous uses ±30°. Triadic uses 120° and 240°. Split-complementary uses 150° and 210°. Tetradic and square use 90°, 180°, and 270° (square spaces them evenly; tetradic emphasises two complementary pairs). Monochromatic keeps a single hue and only varies lightness. Because saturation and lightness are preserved, the generated colors share a family resemblance with your base color.
| Scheme | Hue offsets | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Complementary | 0°, 180° | Maximum contrast, accents |
| Analogous | -30°, 0°, +30° | Calm, cohesive backgrounds |
| Triadic | 0°, 120°, 240° | Vibrant, balanced trios |
| Split-complementary | 0°, 150°, 210° | Contrast with less tension |
| Tetradic / Square | 0°, 90°, 180°, 270° | Rich four-color schemes |
| Monochromatic | single hue | Subtle, unified tints and shades |
Turning a scheme into a usable palette
A harmony scheme gives you raw hues, but a finished palette needs hierarchy. Choose one color to dominate, then assign the others to secondary and accent roles using the 60-30-10 ratio. Desaturate or lighten supporting colors so a single accent can stand out. Always check that any text-on-background pairing meets WCAG AA contrast (4.5:1 for body text). Harmony decides which colors belong together; contrast and proportion decide whether the result is readable and professional.
Worked examples
Blue base, complementary
Inputs: #2563EB
Result: Pairs blue with an orange-toned opposite for strong contrast
Blue base, analogous
Inputs: #2563EB
Result: Generates indigo and cyan neighbours for a cohesive cool palette
Glossary
- Hue
- The pure color attribute measured in degrees around the color wheel, from 0° to 360°.
- Complementary
- Two colors directly opposite each other on the wheel (180° apart), producing the strongest contrast.
- Analogous
- Colors next to each other on the wheel (within about 30°), giving a calm, cohesive look.
- Monochromatic
- A scheme built from a single hue, varying only saturation and lightness.
- 60-30-10 rule
- A proportion guideline: 60% dominant color, 30% secondary, 10% accent.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why use Color Harmony Generator?
- Shows all seven harmony schemes from one base color at once, so you can compare instead of guessing
- Each scheme uses precise color-wheel angles, giving reproducible, theory-correct results every time
- Copy any individual swatch as an uppercase hex code straight into CSS or a design token
- Works from your own brand color, generating supporting hues guaranteed to relate to it
Common use cases
- Finding accent colors for a brand starting from an existing primary hue
- Choosing a calm analogous background palette for a long-form reading layout
- Picking a high-contrast complementary pair for call-to-action buttons
- Teaching or learning color theory by seeing how hue angles map to schemes
- Building a quick mood board of related colors before opening a design tool
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