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Lime vs Purple: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Lime and Purple is hue — Lime is a cool-leaning green, while Purple is a warm-leaning magenta. Lime and Purple are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Lime (#00FF00) and Purple (#800080) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.

Lime#00FF00
Purple#800080
#00FF00Blended: #408040#800080
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Lime vs Purple: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Lime Purple
BrightnessMedium (L=50%) — balanced, versatileDark (L=25%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catchingVivid (S=100%) — bright, energetic, eye-catching
Hue familyGreenMagenta
TemperatureCool-leaningWarm-leaning
Hex code#00FF00#800080
RGB0, 255, 0128, 0, 128

Can you use Lime and Purple together?

Purple text on Lime
Lime text on Purple
Contrast Ratio:6.86:1WCAG AA Pass ✓

How to Tell Lime and Purple Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Lime is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 180° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Lime or Purple: Which to Use and Where

Four real design scenarios, with the recommended pick based on hue, saturation, and WCAG contrast.

◆Branding & logos
PickLime

Lime is more saturated (100% HSL vs 100%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Purple can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickPurple

Purple hits a 9.42:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Lime only reaches 1.37:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickPurple

Purple is a warm tone that flatters spring/summer collections and warmer skin undertones, while Lime leans cooler and is better suited to autumn/winter layering.

▣Interior design & walls
PickLime

Lime is the more muted of the two (100% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Purple's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Lime vs Purple in Design

Use Lime for:
●Eco, nature, wellness brands
●Finance, success, growth
●Go-states and confirmations
●Food and garden products
●Calm, grounded UI surfaces
Use Purple for:
●Bold fashion and beauty
●Youthful music and events
●Pride and celebration
●Creative tech startups
●High-energy marketing

Lime and Purple Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Lime#00FF00

Lime (#00FF00) is a medium, vivid green with a cool-leaning undertone — it feels balanced, versatile and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Purple#800080

Purple (#800080) is a dark, vivid magenta with a warm-leaning undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and bright, energetic, eye-catching.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Lime and Purple WCAG Contrast Ratios

Text legibility depends on the contrast ratio between foreground and background. WCAG 2.1 AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text; AAA requires 7:1. Use these numbers to choose accessible combinations for your design.

Sample text preview
Lime text on white
1.37:1Fail
Sample text preview
Lime text on black
15.3:1AAA
Sample text preview
Purple text on white
9.42:1AAA
Sample text preview
Purple text on black
2.23:1Fail
Sample text preview
Lime text on Purple
6.86:1AA
Sample text preview
Purple text on Lime
6.86:1AA

Explore Lime and Purple individually

Each color has a dedicated page with shades, tints, CSS name, pairings, and color psychology.

Lime color page#00FF00 · shades, tints, pairingsPurple color page#800080 · shades, tints, pairings

More Lime and Purple Comparisons

MintvsLimePurplevsRedLimevsNavyPlumvsPurpleLemonvsLimePurplevsPlumGreenvsLimeBluevsPurpleLimevsCoralTealvsPurpleSeafoamvsLimePurplevsGrape

Lime vs Purple FAQ

What is the difference between lime and purple?+
The main difference between Lime and Purple is hue — Lime is a cool-leaning green, while Purple is a warm-leaning magenta. Lime and Purple are often confused but have distinct differences in hue, saturation, and tone. Lime (#00FF00) and Purple (#800080) each suit different design contexts — understanding their differences helps you choose the right color for your project.
Is lime darker than purple?+
No. Purple is the darker of the two at 25% lightness, while Lime sits higher at 50%.
Are lime and purple the same color?+
No. Lime is #00FF00 and Purple is #800080. They differ by 180° in hue, 25% in lightness, and 0% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, lime or purple?+
They have nearly identical saturation — Lime at 100% and Purple at 100% in HSL.
Is lime warm or cool?+
Lime (#00FF00) is a cool-leaning green. Its hue sits at 120° on the color wheel, which places it in the cool-leaning range.
Is purple warm or cool?+
Purple (#800080) is a warm-leaning magenta. Its hue sits at 300° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm-leaning range.
Can you use lime and purple together?+
Yes. Lime (green) and Purple (magenta) can work as a complementary or analogous pair. Use one as the dominant tone and the other as a 10–20% accent to keep the palette balanced.
What color family does lime belong to?+
Lime belongs to the green family. Its HSL is 120°, 100%, 50% — a cool-leaning tone within the broader green group.
What is the hex code for lime?+
The hex code for Lime is #00FF00. In RGB, that's rgb(0, 255, 0), and in HSL it's hsl(120, 100%, 50%).
What is the hex code for purple?+
The hex code for Purple is #800080. In RGB, that's rgb(128, 0, 128), and in HSL it's hsl(300, 100%, 25%).