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Plum vs Lilac: What's the Difference?

The main difference between Plum and Lilac is brightness and saturation: both are magenta shades, but they share similar brightness and Plum is more saturated. Plum (#DDA0DD) has an HSL of 300°, 47%, 75%, whereas Lilac (#C8A2C8) sits at 300°, 26%, 71%.

Plum#DDA0DD
Lilac#C8A2C8
#DDA0DDBlended: #D3A1D3#C8A2C8

Plum vs Lilac: Key Differences at a Glance

Aspect Plum Lilac
BrightnessLight (L=75%) — airy, soft, approachableLight (L=71%) — airy, soft, approachable
SaturationModerately saturated (S=47%) — balanced in intensityMuted (S=26%) — subdued, sophisticated
Hue familyMagentaMagenta
TemperatureWarm-leaningWarm-leaning
Hex code#DDA0DD#C8A2C8
RGB221, 160, 221200, 162, 200

Can you use Plum and Lilac together?

Lilac text on Plum
Plum text on Lilac
Contrast Ratio:1.07:1Insufficient Contrast

How to Tell Plum and Lilac Apart

  • ●Check saturation: Plum looks more vivid and saturated.
  • ●Compare them on a white background to see true saturation, and on black to see true lightness.

When to Use Plum vs Lilac in Design

Use Plum for:
●Bold fashion and beauty
●Youthful music and events
●Pride and celebration
●Creative tech startups
●High-energy marketing
Use Lilac for:
●Bold fashion and beauty
●Youthful music and events
●Pride and celebration
●Creative tech startups
●High-energy marketing

Plum and Lilac 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
Lilac#C8A2C8

Lilac (#C8A2C8) is a light, muted magenta with a warm-leaning undertone — it feels airy, soft, approachable and subdued, sophisticated.

HEX
RGB
HSL
HSV
CMYK
PANTONE
Shades
Tints

Plum and Lilac 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
Lilac text on white
2.22:1Fail
Sample text preview
Lilac text on black
9.46:1AAA
Sample text preview
Plum text on Lilac
1.07:1Fail
Sample text preview
Lilac text on Plum
1.07:1Fail

Explore Plum and Lilac individually

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

Plum color page#DDA0DD · shades, tints, pairingsLilac color page#C8A2C8 · shades, tints, pairings

More Plum and Lilac Comparisons

MauvevsPlumPlumvsGrapeLilacvsMauveGrapevsPlumMauvevsLilacLilacvsOrchidPlumvsPurpleOrchidvsLilacPurplevsPlumVioletvsLilacPlumvsEggplantPurplevsLilac

Plum vs Lilac FAQ

What is the difference between plum and lilac?+
The main difference between Plum and Lilac is brightness and saturation: both are magenta shades, but they share similar brightness and Plum is more saturated. Plum (#DDA0DD) has an HSL of 300°, 47%, 75%, whereas Lilac (#C8A2C8) sits at 300°, 26%, 71%.
Is plum darker than lilac?+
No. Lilac is the darker of the two at 71% lightness, while Plum sits higher at 75%.
Are plum and lilac the same color?+
No. Plum is #DDA0DD and Lilac is #C8A2C8. They differ by 0° in hue, 4% in lightness, and 21% in saturation.
Which is more saturated, plum or lilac?+
Plum is more saturated. In HSL, Plum has 47% saturation and Lilac has 26% — Plum is the more vivid of the two, while Lilac 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 lilac warm or cool?+
Lilac (#C8A2C8) 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 plum and lilac together?+
Yes. Both plum and lilac are magenta shades, so they pair naturally in a monochromatic palette. Use lilac as the dominant color and plum as the accent or highlight.
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 lilac?+
The hex code for Lilac is #C8A2C8. In RGB, that's rgb(200, 162, 200), and in HSL it's hsl(300, 26%, 71%).