Home /Colors /Purple
Purple#800080

Purple color code is #800080. Use this page to get all code formats, explore shades and tints, and find colors that work with purple.

ShadesTints
Preview
Text on White
White on Color
ShareSave to PinterestTweet

Explore Purple

Purple Accessibility & WCAG Contrast

Relative luminance of Purple is 0.0615. Its WCAG contrast ratio is 9.42:1 against white and 2.23:1 against black. Use the card with the higher ratio for body text.

The quick brown fox
Purple on white9.42:1AAA
The quick brown fox
Purple on black2.23:1Fail
The quick brown fox
White on Purple9.42:1AAA
The quick brown fox
Black on Purple2.23:1Fail

Purple — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hex code for Purple?+
The hex code for Purple is #800080. In RGB it's rgb(128, 0, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(300, 100%, 25%).
What is the RGB value of Purple?+
Purple in RGB is (128, 0, 128). Written in CSS: rgb(128, 0, 128).
What is the CMYK value of Purple?+
Purple converts to CMYK(0%, 100%, 0%, 50%) for print. Hex equivalent is #800080.
Is purple a warm or cool color?+
Purple (#800080) is a transitional magenta — its hue sits at 300° on the color wheel, placing it in the transitional part of the spectrum.
What color family does purple belong to?+
Purple belongs to the magenta family. Its HSL is 300°, 100%, 25% — a transitional tone within the broader magenta group.
Is purple accessible for body text on a white background?+
Purple on white reaches a WCAG contrast ratio of 9.42:1 — passes WCAG AAA for body text on white.
What is the closest Pantone match for purple?+
The nearest Pantone match for Purple (#800080) is 235 C Pantone 235 C, calculated by Euclidean RGB distance over the Pantone Matching System.

How to use Purple in design

Practical guidance for using purple (#800080) across four design contexts, derived from its hue, lightness, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

Web & UI design

Use Purple (#800080) as primary text or icon color on white backgrounds — at 9.4:1 contrast it passes WCAG AAA for body copy. Avoid placing purple text on dark surfaces; the contrast drops below the AA threshold.

Branding & identity

As a brand color, Purple (#800080) reads as high-energy and confident and premium and serious. It fits naturally into fashion, beauty, music, youthful events. Use it as the primary identity color and pair with one neutral (white, off-white, or near-black). Test legibility on both your logo and small UI text before locking it in — saturation that works on a 200px logo can feel overpowering at favicon scale.

Fashion & apparel

Purple flatters cool-leaning skin tones (pink, rosy, blue undertones) and works best in autumn/winter collections. Pair it with cool neutrals (charcoal, slate, off-white, black) and it works as a sophisticated alternative to navy. Deep cool tones photograph richly under indoor light and read as quiet luxury — strong choice for eveningwear.

Interior design

Purple is a moody, atmospheric room color — perfect for libraries, dining rooms, bedrooms, and bars where you want the space to feel enclosed and cinematic. Pair with brass or unlacquered fixtures, warm overhead lighting (2700K bulbs), and natural-fiber rugs. Avoid using it in spaces with limited natural light unless that intimacy is the point.