Complementary Colour Finder
Enter any colour and instantly find its complement — the colour directly opposite it on the colour wheel — for strong, high-contrast pairings.
Choose a Base Colour
Base and Complement
Base
#4A7C59
Complement
#7C4A6D
How to Use the Complementary Colour Finder
Enter a HEX colour code, or use the Random Colour button, and the tool instantly calculates its complement — the colour sitting directly opposite it on the colour wheel. Both colours are shown side by side with Copy buttons for each HEX code.
How the Maths Works
The tool converts your colour to Hue, Saturation and Lightness, then rotates the hue by exactly 180 degrees while keeping saturation and lightness unchanged, before converting back to HEX. Rotating by half of the 360-degree colour wheel always lands on the colour directly opposite your original.
Using Complementary Colours in Your Artwork
Complementary pairs create some of the strongest contrast available in colour, which is why they're often used to make a focal point pop, such as an orange accent against a blue background. Because the contrast is so strong, complementary pairs usually work best when one colour dominates the composition and the other is used more sparingly as an accent, rather than using both in equal amounts.
Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a complementary colour?
A complementary colour is the colour that sits directly opposite another colour on the colour wheel, such as orange and blue, or red and cyan.
How is the complement calculated?
The tool converts your colour to Hue, Saturation and Lightness, rotates the hue by exactly 180 degrees, and converts the result back to a HEX code.
Why do complementary colours look so bold together?
Because they sit on opposite sides of the colour wheel, complementary pairs create the strongest hue contrast available, which makes each colour appear more vivid next to the other.
Should I use equal amounts of both colours?
Usually not. Because the contrast is so strong, complementary pairs often work best with one colour used as the dominant tone and the other as a smaller accent.
How is this different from the Analogous Colour Generator?
This tool finds the single colour directly opposite yours for maximum contrast. The Analogous Colour Generator instead finds neighbouring colours for a calmer, more harmonious feel.
How is this different from the Interactive Artist Colour Wheel?
The Interactive Artist Colour Wheel lets you explore several colour relationships at once around a full wheel. This tool focuses specifically and quickly on finding one colour's complement.
Can I copy the HEX codes?
Yes. Click the Copy button next to either the base or complement HEX code to copy it straight to your clipboard.
Can I use the keyboard instead of a mouse or touchscreen?
Yes. Tab to the HEX field and type your code, or tab to the Random Colour, Reset and Copy buttons, all of which are fully keyboard operable.
Can I use this tool on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The field and swatches all resize to work comfortably on phones and tablets as well as desktop screens.
Is my colour data stored or sent anywhere?
No. All calculations happen directly in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or stored.
Is this Complementary Colour Finder free to use?
Yes, it's completely free to use, with no account, sign-up or download required.
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