Website Color Palette Generator
Create professional website color palettes with WCAG accessibility checking. Generate harmonious web color schemes following the 60-30-10 rule with live preview and instant CSS export.
🎨 Base Color & Harmony
🎯 Your Website Color Palette
Primary Color (60% - Dominant)
Main brand color, backgrounds, large sections
Secondary Color (30% - Supporting)
Secondary sections, cards, supporting elements
Accent Color (10% - Highlights)
Buttons, CTAs, links, important highlights
Neutral Colors (Backgrounds & Text)
♿ WCAG Accessibility Check
Generate a palette to see contrast ratios
👁️ Live Website Preview
Generate a palette to see your website preview
📋 Export Palette
Understanding Website Color Palettes
Website color palettes are carefully coordinated sets of colors that create visual harmony, reinforce brand identity, and enhance user experience across digital platforms. A professional web color scheme balances aesthetics with functionality, ensuring both beauty and accessibility.
The 60-30-10 Rule in Web Design
The 60-30-10 rule provides a proven framework for color distribution in website design. Your dominant color should occupy 60% of your design space (typically backgrounds and large sections), secondary color fills 30% (supporting elements and sections), and accent color adds 10% (buttons, links, highlights).
This proportional approach creates balanced, professional websites with clear visual hierarchy that guides users naturally through content without overwhelming them with competing colors.
WCAG Contrast Requirements
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) mandate specific contrast ratios to ensure text readability for all users, including those with visual impairments. The contrast ratio is calculated using the formula:
Contrast Ratio = \(\frac{L_1 + 0.05}{L_2 + 0.05}\)
Where \(L_1\) represents the relative luminance of the lighter color and \(L_2\) the darker color. Level AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, while Level AAA demands 7:1 and 4.5:1 respectively.
Primary, Secondary, and Accent Colors
Primary colors define your brand identity and dominate large design areas. Secondary colors provide contrast and variety while complementing the primary. Accent colors draw attention to interactive elements like buttons and CTAs. Together, these colors create cohesive visual systems that users recognize and trust.
Neutral Colors in Web Design
Neutral colors (whites, grays, blacks) form the foundation of web interfaces. They provide breathing space, ensure text legibility, and allow accent colors to shine. Most professional websites use white or light gray backgrounds, medium grays for borders and dividers, and dark grays or black for text content.
Website Color Harmony Types
Complementary Harmony
Uses colors opposite on the color wheel, creating high contrast and vibrant combinations. Ideal for websites needing bold, attention-grabbing designs like e-commerce sites and promotional pages. The strong contrast helps CTAs stand out dramatically.
Analogous Harmony
Employs adjacent colors on the wheel for serene, harmonious designs. Perfect for corporate websites, portfolios, and content-focused platforms where readability and calm aesthetics take priority. Creates cohesive, professional appearances.
Triadic Harmony
Uses three evenly spaced colors for balanced vibrancy. Suitable for creative agencies, entertainment sites, and brands targeting younger audiences. Offers variety while maintaining visual balance when one color dominates.
Monochromatic Harmony
Relies on variations of a single hue with different saturations and lightness levels. Excellent for minimalist designs, luxury brands, and sophisticated platforms. Creates unified, elegant appearances with subtle depth.
Best Practices for Website Color Palettes
✅ Prioritize Accessibility
Always verify that text and background color combinations meet WCAG contrast requirements. Use accessibility checking tools during palette creation, not after design completion. Test with screen readers and color blindness simulators to ensure your website remains usable for all visitors.
✅ Maintain Consistency
Use your palette consistently across all pages and components. Define color roles clearly (which color for buttons, which for headings, etc.) and document these decisions. Consistency builds user trust and creates memorable brand experiences that strengthen recognition.
✅ Consider Color Psychology
Colors evoke emotions and associations. Blue conveys trust and professionalism, green suggests growth and health, red creates urgency and excitement. Choose colors that align with your brand message and target audience expectations for maximum psychological impact.
✅ Test Across Devices
Colors display differently on various screens and devices. Test your palette on multiple monitors, smartphones, and tablets under different lighting conditions. What looks perfect on your calibrated design monitor might appear washed out or oversaturated on user devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a color palette for my website?
Start with your brand colors or choose a primary color that reflects your brand personality. Select a harmony type that matches your design goals, generate complementary colors, and ensure all combinations meet accessibility standards. Test the palette in context before finalizing.
What's the difference between primary and accent colors?
Primary colors dominate your design (60%), establishing brand identity and filling major areas. Accent colors are used sparingly (10%) to draw attention to interactive elements like buttons and CTAs. Think of primary as your foundation and accent as strategic highlights.
Can I use more than 5 colors on my website?
While possible, most effective websites limit their core palette to 3-5 colors plus neutrals. Additional colors can create visual chaos and dilute brand identity. If you need more variety, use tints and shades of your core colors rather than introducing entirely new hues.
How do I implement CSS color variables?
Define CSS custom properties in your :root selector, then reference them throughout your stylesheet. This approach allows easy theme changes and ensures consistency. Modern browsers fully support CSS variables, making them the preferred method for managing website color palettes.
Should I design for dark mode?
Dark mode has become increasingly popular for reducing eye strain and saving battery life. When creating your palette, consider how colors translate to dark backgrounds. Test contrast ratios for both light and dark themes, and provide users with theme toggle options when possible.