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Black and Purple

Tonal Accent color combination with 2.23:1 contrast ratio

#000000
#800080

Color Values

Black
HEX #000000
RGB 0, 0, 0
HSL 0, 0%, 0%
Purple
HEX #800080
RGB 128, 0, 128
HSL 300, 100%, 25%

Harmony: Tonal Accent

One color is neutral and the other carries the chroma, which is a reliable formula for balanced design. The neutral gives the eye somewhere to rest while the chromatic color provides the focal point.

The hue angle between Black and Purple is 60 degrees (though one or both colors are achromatic, so hue angle is less relevant than lightness contrast). You can explore these relationships interactively in our Color Wheel Tool.

WCAG Contrast

2.23:1
Black background with Purple text
Below AA — decorative use only

UI Preview

Black surface

Sample text on a black background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Purple surface

Sample text on a purple background demonstrates readability and visual hierarchy.

Design Tokens

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-a: #000000;
  --color-b: #800080;
  --color-a-rgb: 0, 0, 0;
  --color-b-rgb: 128, 0, 128;
}

JSON

{
  "name": "Black and Purple",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Black",
      "hex": "#000000",
      "rgb": [
        0,
        0,
        0
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Purple",
      "hex": "#800080",
      "rgb": [
        128,
        0,
        128
      ]
    }
  ],
  "harmony": "Tonal Accent",
  "contrastRatio": 2.23
}

Explore These Colors

Frequently Asked Questions

Do black and purple go together?

Yes. Black and Purple form a tonal accent color combination. One color is neutral and the other carries the chroma, which is a reliable formula for balanced design. The neutral gives the eye somewhere to rest while the chromatic color provides the focal point. The pairing has a WCAG contrast ratio of 2.23:1, which is below the AA threshold for text — use it for decorative purposes rather than text readability.

What is the contrast ratio between black and purple?

The WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio between Black (#000000) and Purple (#800080) is 2.23:1. This ratio is below AA. Use the pairing for backgrounds, borders, and decorative elements rather than text-on-background combinations.

How do I use black and purple in design?

A safe starting point is the 60/30/10 rule: give one color about 60 percent of the surface area, the other about 30 percent, and reserve the remaining 10 percent for an accent or neutral. If one color is significantly darker, use it for text or structural elements and the lighter one for backgrounds. Test the result with our Contrast Checker if text is involved.

What are the hex and RGB values for black and purple?

Black has the hex code #000000 and RGB values rgb(0, 0, 0). Purple has the hex code #800080 and RGB values rgb(128, 0, 128). You can copy these directly into CSS or use the design tokens provided on this page.