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Plum vs Eggplant: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Plum and Eggplant is hue — Plum is a warm-leaning magenta, while Eggplant is a warm-leaning pink. Plum (#DDA0DD) and Eggplant (#614051) are similar colors often confused. They differ in brightness, saturation, and undertone, making each better suited for different design contexts.

Plum#DDA0DD
Eggplant#614051
#DDA0DDBlended: #9F7097#614051
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Plum vs Eggplant: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Plum Eggplant
BrightnessLight (L=75%) — airy, soft, approachableDark (L=32%) — rich, serious, substantial
SaturationModerately saturated (S=47%) — balanced in intensityMuted (S=20%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyMagentaPink
TemperatureWarm-leaningWarm-leaning
Hex code#DDA0DD#614051
RGB221, 160, 22197, 64, 81

Can you use Plum and Eggplant together?

Eggplant text on Plum
Plum text on Eggplant
Contrast Ratio:4.30:1Large Text Only

How to Tell Plum and Eggplant Apart

  • ●Look at lightness first: Plum is noticeably lighter.
  • ●Check saturation: Plum looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Watch the undertone: the hue shifts 29° between them, which changes the perceived temperature.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

Plum or Eggplant: Which to Use and Where

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

◆Branding & logos
PickPlum

Plum is more saturated (47% HSL vs 20%) so it reads as bolder and more memorable at logo scale, while Eggplant can feel washed out when printed small.

▢Web UI & body text backgrounds
PickEggplant

Eggplant hits a 8.90:1 WCAG contrast against white — safer for text-heavy interfaces — where Plum only reaches 2.07:1 and risks failing AA at small body sizes.

⬡Fashion & apparel
PickPlum

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

▣Interior design & walls
PickEggplant

Eggplant is the more muted of the two (20% saturation) and sits more calmly on large wall surfaces, while Plum's higher chroma can overwhelm a room when used beyond accent pieces.

When to Use Plum vs Eggplant in Design

Use Plum for:
●Bold fashion and beauty
●Youthful music and events
●Pride and celebration
●Creative tech startups
●High-energy marketing
Use Eggplant for:
●Soft feminine branding
●Beauty, skincare, romance
●Valentine's and weddings
●Youthful and playful design
●Gentle friendly UI accents

Plum and Eggplant Hex Codes, RGB & HSL

Plum#DDA0DD

Plum (#DDA0DD) is a light, moderately saturated magenta with a warm-leaning undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and balanced in intensity.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints
Eggplant#614051

Eggplant (#614051) is a dark, muted pink with a warm-leaning undertone — it feels rich, serious, substantial and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Plum and Eggplant 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
Plum text on white
2.07:1Fail
Sample text preview
Plum text on black
10.15:1AAA
Sample text preview
Eggplant text on white
8.9:1AAA
Sample text preview
Eggplant text on black
2.36:1Fail
Sample text preview
Plum text on Eggplant
4.3:1AA Large
Sample text preview
Eggplant text on Plum
4.3:1AA Large

Explore Plum and Eggplant individually

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

Plum color page#DDA0DD · shades, tints, pairings

More Plum and Eggplant Comparisons

MauvevsPlumPlumvsGrapeEggplantvsPlumGrapevsPlumGrapevsEggplantPlumvsLilacPurplevsEggplantPlumvsPurpleVioletvsEggplantPurplevsPlumEggplantvsBurgundyAmethystvsEggplant

Plum vs Eggplant FAQ

What is the difference between plum and eggplant?+
The main difference between Plum and Eggplant is hue — Plum is a warm-leaning magenta, while Eggplant is a warm-leaning pink. Plum (#DDA0DD) and Eggplant (#614051) are similar colors often confused. They differ in brightness, saturation, and undertone, making each better suited for different design contexts.
Is plum darker than eggplant?+
No. Eggplant is the darker of the two at 32% lightness, while Plum sits higher at 75%.
Are plum and eggplant the same color?+
No. Plum is #DDA0DD and Eggplant is #614051. They differ by 29° in hue, 43% in lightness, and 27% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, plum or eggplant?+
Plum is more saturated. In HSL, Plum has 47% saturation and Eggplant has 20% — Plum is the more vivid of the two, while Eggplant reads as more muted.
Is plum warm or cool?+
Plum (#DDA0DD) is a warm-leaning magenta. Its hue sits at 300° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm-leaning range.
Is eggplant warm or cool?+
Eggplant (#614051) is a warm-leaning pink. Its hue sits at 329° on the color wheel, which places it in the warm-leaning range.
Can you use plum and eggplant together?+
Yes. Plum (magenta) and Eggplant (pink) 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 plum belong to?+
Plum belongs to the magenta family. Its HSL is 300°, 47%, 75% — a warm-leaning tone within the broader magenta group.
What is the hex code for plum?+
The hex code for Plum is #DDA0DD. In RGB, that's rgb(221, 160, 221), and in HSL it's hsl(300, 47%, 75%).
What is the hex code for eggplant?+
The hex code for Eggplant is #614051. In RGB, that's rgb(97, 64, 81), and in HSL it's hsl(329, 20%, 32%).