Shades of Violet: Names and Hex Codes
This is a practical reference for the most useful shades of violet, with accurate hex codes, RGB values, and notes on character and use. Violet is the most blue-leaning member of the purple family — brighter and more electric than purple proper, cooler and more vivid than magenta. Small shifts toward blue, red, or gray turn it from a glowing screen-native hue into a soft botanical pastel or a deep gemstone tone, so the right violet depends entirely on the mood you want. Use the table below as a citable palette, then read on for how the shades group together.
For how violet compares with its close relatives, see violet vs purple and indigo vs violet; for the symbolism, read color psychology. The neighbouring blue-purples are covered in our shades of indigo reference.
Shades of violet: full table
| Shade name | Hex | RGB | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violet | #7F00FF | 127, 0, 255 | Pure vivid blue-purple. |
| Electric Violet | #8F00FF | 143, 0, 255 | Brighter, glowing violet. |
| Blue-Violet | #8A2BE2 | 138, 43, 226 | CSS blueviolet; blue-leaning. |
| Amethyst | #9966CC | 153, 102, 204 | Soft gemstone violet. |
| African Violet | #B284BE | 178, 132, 190 | Muted dusty floral violet. |
| Mulberry | #C54B8C | 197, 75, 140 | Red-leaning pink-violet. |
| CSS Violet | #EE82EE | 238, 130, 238 | CSS named violet; light pink-purple. |
| Dark Violet | #9400D3 | 148, 0, 211 | CSS darkviolet; rich saturated. |
| Bright Violet | #7C4DFF | 124, 77, 255 | Vivid periwinkle-violet. |
| Vivid Violet | #A020F0 | 160, 32, 240 | Classic bright purple-violet. |
| Deep Violet | #5B0E8B | 91, 14, 139 | Dark, regal blue-purple. |
| Pale Violet | #CF9FFF | 207, 159, 255 | Soft pastel lilac-violet. |
| Royal Violet | #6A0DAD | 106, 13, 173 | Deep imperial violet. |
| Lavender Violet | #B57EDC | 181, 126, 220 | Light floral lavender-violet. |
| Plum Violet | #682860 | 104, 40, 96 | Muted red-purple violet. |
| Iris Violet | #9457EB | 148, 87, 235 | Bright balanced violet. |
| Violet Black | #40004B | 64, 0, 75 | Near-black deep violet. |
| Thistle Violet | #D8BFD8 | 216, 191, 216 | CSS thistle; very pale grey-violet. |
| Purple Violet | #7D26CD | 125, 38, 205 | Saturated mid violet-purple. |
| Magenta Violet | #9F00C5 | 159, 0, 197 | Red-leaning bright violet. |
| Dusty Violet | #856088 | 133, 96, 136 | Muted grey-toned violet. |
| Heliotrope | #BF5FFF | 191, 95, 255 | Bright pinkish-violet. |
| Aubergine Violet | #311432 | 49, 20, 50 | Deepest aubergine-violet. |
| Wisteria Violet | #9E7BB5 | 158, 123, 181 | Soft muted lavender-violet. |
Electric and vivid violets
The defining violets are bright and luminous. Violet (#7F00FF), Electric Violet (#8F00FF), Vivid Violet (#A020F0), and Dark Violet (#9400D3) are the glowing, maximum-saturation blue-purples used in gradients, neon branding, and digital interfaces. Pure Violet at #7F00FF sits exactly between blue and magenta, which is what gives it that almost vibrating quality on a screen. These vivid violets command attention, so they excel as accents, hero gradients, and calls to action but quickly overwhelm as large flat fills. For where violet separates from a true purple, see violet vs purple.
Blue-leaning violets
Pull violet toward blue and it cools into the indigo border. Blue-Violet (#8A2BE2), Bright Violet (#7C4DFF), and Iris Violet (#9457EB) carry a blue undertone that reads as calm, intelligent, and a little futuristic. These periwinkle-adjacent violets are popular in tech and SaaS branding because they feel innovative without the intensity of pure electric violet. They sit right next to the indigo family — for where that line falls, see indigo vs violet.
Soft floral and pastel violets
Lighten and desaturate violet and it turns botanical. Amethyst (#9966CC), African Violet (#B284BE), Lavender Violet (#B57EDC), Pale Violet (#CF9FFF), and Wisteria Violet (#9E7BB5) are the soft, dusty violets of flowers and gemstones. Amethyst in particular reads as gentle luxury, which is why it appears so often in beauty, wellness, and spiritual branding. These muted violets are calming and feminine-leaning, pairing beautifully with cream, sage, and soft gold for an elegant, understated palette.
Deep and red-leaning violets
The richest violets go dark or warm. Deep Violet (#5B0E8B), Royal Violet (#6A0DAD), Violet Black (#40004B), and Aubergine Violet (#311432) are deep, regal tones that read as imperial and luxurious. Push the hue toward red instead and you get Mulberry (#C54B8C), Magenta Violet (#9F00C5), and Heliotrope (#BF5FFF), which lean pink and feel bolder and more theatrical. These warm and deep violets anchor premium packaging and editorial design where a flat bright violet would feel too synthetic.
Choosing the right violet shade
Start by deciding the role the violet should play. For a bold accent or gradient, reach for the electric and vivid violets; for a calm, intelligent brand color, reach for the blue-leaning violets; for a gentle, elegant surface, reach for the soft floral and pastel violets; and for a rich, premium anchor, reach for the deep and aubergine violets. The biggest pitfall is saturation: a fully saturated violet that looks great as a small accent will overwhelm an entire layout, so scale brightness to area. Keep your violets tonally related — a dusty amethyst and a glowing electric violet can coexist, but only if one clearly leads and the other supports. A dependable formula is one deep violet anchor, one bright violet accent, and one pale or neutral background tone.
Most popular shades of violet
The violets most people name and use are Violet (#7F00FF) as the pure baseline, Electric Violet (#8F00FF) for a glowing screen option, Blue-Violet (#8A2BE2) for the blue-leaning edge, Amethyst (#9966CC) for a soft gemstone tone, and African Violet (#B284BE) for a muted floral. Together they cover electric through dusty to deep, which is why they anchor most creative, slightly luxurious palettes.
How to use shades of violet in design
Violet signals creativity, imagination, and a touch of luxury, so it lifts palettes that want to feel original without going loud. Use vivid violets like Electric Violet and Vivid Violet sparingly as accents, gradients, and interactive states; use soft violets like Amethyst and Lavender Violet for backgrounds and supportive fills; and reserve deep violets like Royal Violet and Aubergine for anchors and headers. Violet pairs beautifully with cream, sage green, gold, blush, and soft grey, evoking elegance, creativity, and calm. The main risk is that high-saturation violets clash with warm reds and feel synthetic at scale, so temper them with neutrals and use a muted violet for large areas. A reliable approach treats a deep violet as your anchor, one electric violet as the accent, and a pale violet or neutral for backgrounds. Because violet reads as imaginative and premium, it suits beauty, wellness, and creative-tech brands particularly well, signalling originality without ever shouting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hex code for violet?
The spectral, pure violet hex is #7F00FF (RGB 127, 0, 255), a vivid blue-purple. The CSS named color “violet” is lighter at #EE82EE, a soft pink-purple. For a brighter glowing version use Electric Violet (#8F00FF), and for a soft gemstone tone use Amethyst (#9966CC).
What is the difference between violet and purple?
Violet (#7F00FF) is a spectral color that leans toward blue and reads as brighter and cooler, while purple is a mix of red and blue that leans warmer and more muted. Violet is more vivid and electric; purple is richer and more balanced. The two overlap heavily, but violet always sits closer to blue.
How many shades of violet are there?
Violet variations are effectively limitless because violet spans the blue-purple band, but designers typically reference 20 to 30 named shades. This list includes 24 of the most recognized, from electric blue-violets through soft floral and pastel tones to deep aubergine and red-leaning violets.
What colors go well with violet?
Violet pairs naturally with cream, sage green, gold, and soft grey for an elegant, creative palette. For high contrast, combine violet with yellow, lime, or coral. Softer amethyst and lavender violets also work alongside blush pink and silver for a calm, luxurious scheme.
