Purple Color Codes: Hex, RGB & HSL Values for Purple
Why Purple Commands Attention in Design
Purple sits at the intersection of passionate red and calm blue, creating a color that feels both luxurious and creative. Historically associated with royalty — Tyrian purple dye was once worth more than gold — purple still carries connotations of wealth, sophistication, and exclusivity. In digital design, purple has surged in popularity, used by brands like Twitch, Discord, and FedEx. It's a bold choice that signals creativity and innovation.
Complete Purple Color Reference Table
| Color Name | Hex Code | RGB | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purple (Pure) | #800080 | 128, 0, 128 | 300°, 100%, 25% |
| Amethyst | #9B59B6 | 155, 89, 182 | 283°, 39%, 53% |
| Wisteria | #8E44AD | 142, 68, 173 | 283°, 43%, 47% |
| Indigo | #4B0082 | 75, 0, 130 | 275°, 100%, 25% |
| Grape | #6A0DAD | 106, 13, 173 | 277°, 86%, 36% |
| Medium Slate Blue | #7B68EE | 123, 104, 238 | 249°, 80%, 67% |
| Medium Purple | #9370DB | 147, 112, 219 | 261°, 60%, 65% |
| Plum | #DDA0DD | 221, 160, 221 | 300°, 47%, 75% |
| Lavender | #E6E6FA | 230, 230, 250 | 240°, 67%, 94% |
| Rebecca Purple | #663399 | 102, 51, 153 | 270°, 50%, 40% |
| Amethyst | #9966CC | 153, 102, 204 | 270°, 50%, 60% |
| Dark Orchid | #BF40BF | 191, 64, 191 | 300°, 50%, 50% |
Purple Color Palettes for Design
Royal Luxury Palette
Ideal for premium brands, luxury products, and high-end services:
| Role | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | #4C1D95 | 76, 29, 149 |
| Secondary | #7C3AED | 124, 58, 237 |
| Accent | #A78BFA | 167, 139, 250 |
| Dark | #2E1065 | 46, 16, 101 |
| Light | #EDE9FE | 237, 233, 254 |
Modern Creative Palette
Great for tech startups, creative agencies, and modern apps:
| Role | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | #8B5CF6 | 139, 92, 246 |
| Secondary | #C084FC | 192, 132, 252 |
| Accent | #DDD6FE | 221, 214, 254 |
Where to Use Purple in Design
- Luxury brands: Deep purples like
#4C1D95convey elegance and exclusivity — used by premium cosmetics, fashion, and jewelry brands - Creative platforms: Medium purples like
#8B5CF6feel innovative and artistic — popular with design tools, streaming platforms, and gaming brands - Wellness & spirituality: Lavender and soft purples evoke calm and mindfulness — common in meditation apps, spas, and wellness content
- Children's products: Bright purples and violets are playful and imaginative — ideal for toys, educational apps, and kids' content
- Fintech & innovation: Purple suggests forward-thinking — a fresh alternative to the overused blue in tech branding
Purple Accessibility Considerations
Purple poses unique accessibility challenges. Many purple shades fail WCAG contrast requirements against white backgrounds. For text, use dark purples like #4C1D95 on light backgrounds, or white text on medium-dark purples. Light purples like lavender should never be used for text. Approximately 8% of men have color vision deficiencies — purple-red combinations can be particularly problematic for deuteranopia. Always test your purple designs with a color blindness simulator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pure purple is #800080. In design, popular shades include #7C3AED (Tailwind violet-600) and #8B5CF6 (violet-500).
Pure purple is rgb(128, 0, 128). Indigo is rgb(75, 0, 130). Values vary widely across the purple spectrum.
Purple ranges from approximately 270° to 330° on the HSL wheel. Pure purple sits at 300°, while indigo is around 275° and magenta at 330°.
Purple pairs beautifully with gold for luxury, yellow for energetic contrast, teal for modern balance, and pink for harmonious analogous schemes. White and light gray provide clean contrast.
Absolutely. Purple signals creativity, luxury, and innovation. Brands like Twitch, Hallmark, and Roku use purple effectively. It's less common than blue, helping you stand out.