One base color plus a harmony rule equals a palette that works, with hex codes ready to copy.
Click any swatch to copy its hex code.
Palettes fail when colors are picked one at a time by eye; they work when the colors hold a mathematical relationship on the color wheel. This generator applies the classic harmonies: analogous schemes take neighbors (calm, cohesive, nature's own scheme), complementary pairs opposites (maximum contrast and energy), triadic takes three evenly spaced hues (balanced but vibrant), split-complementary softens the contrast of a direct opposite, and monochromatic builds five depths of one hue (the foolproof corporate scheme). A 'surprise me' mode picks a random base and harmony for pure exploration.
Working method for real projects: generate around the one color you must have (a brand color, a product photo's dominant tone), then assign roles, one dominant (60%), one supporting (30%), one accent (10%), rather than using all five equally. Every swatch shows its hex for direct use in CSS or design tools, and clicking copies it. Check text combinations with the Contrast Checker on this site before shipping them: a beautiful palette can still fail accessibility.
Which harmony is safest for a website? Monochromatic or analogous with one complementary accent. They are nearly impossible to make clash, and the Contrast Checker verifies readability on top.
Why five colors? Five is the working set most design systems converge on: primary, secondary, accent, plus a light and a dark for surfaces and text. More becomes a drawer of unrelated crayons.
Can I lock a color and vary the rest? Set it as the base and switch harmonies, the base stays fixed while the relationships change, which is the practical form of locking.