Eggplant Color Palette
Eggplant is hex #614051, rgb(97, 64, 81). Eggplant (aubergine) is a very dark, brownish purple. It works as a warmer, more distinctive alternative to black for text and dark backgrounds.
By Mohamed Farhan · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Eggplant color codes
Reading the eggplant color codes
The hex code #614051 is three pairs of base-16 numbers for red, green and blue. 61 is 97, 40 is 64 and 51 is 81, each on a scale from 0 to 255. That is why the same color is written rgb(97, 64, 81) in CSS. The red channel is the strongest here, which is what gives eggplant its magenta character.
HSL describes the same color the way people think about it. A hue of 329 degrees places eggplant in the magenta part of the color wheel. Saturation of 20% makes it muted, and lightness of 32% makes it a dark color. HSL is the easiest format to adjust by hand: keep the hue, then raise or lower lightness to create tints and shades that stay in the same family.
For print, the approximate CMYK mix is 0% cyan, 34% magenta, 16% yellow and 62% black. Screen and print colors never match perfectly, because monitors emit light while ink absorbs it, so always proof a printed sample before committing to eggplant for packaging or stationery. See MDN's guide to CSS color values for every format browsers accept.
Eggplant shades and tints
A full 50 to 950 scale built around #614051, so you can use eggplant for backgrounds, borders, buttons and text without leaving the family. Click any shade to copy it.
// tailwind.config.js
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
"eggplant": {
50: "#E6E0E3",
100: "#D3CACE",
200: "#C0B3B9",
300: "#AD9CA5",
400: "#9A8590",
500: "#876E7B",
600: "#745766",
700: "#614051",
800: "#4F3442",
900: "#3D2833",
950: "#2A1C23",
},
},
},
}:root {
--eggplant-50: #E6E0E3;
--eggplant-100: #D3CACE;
--eggplant-200: #C0B3B9;
--eggplant-300: #AD9CA5;
--eggplant-400: #9A8590;
--eggplant-500: #876E7B;
--eggplant-600: #745766;
--eggplant-700: #614051;
--eggplant-800: #4F3442;
--eggplant-900: #3D2833;
--eggplant-950: #2A1C23;
}A shade-by-shade guide to eggplant
The 50 to 950 scale above follows the same structure as Tailwind's built-in palettes, so each step has a natural job. The lightest steps, 50 (#E6E0E3) and 100 (#D3CACE), are page and card backgrounds: they carry the eggplant mood without competing with content. Steps 200 (#C0B3B9) and 300 (#AD9CA5) suit borders, dividers, hover states and selected rows.
The middle of the scale, 400 to 600, is where eggplant is most recognizable, so use it for brand moments, illustrations and primary buttons. White text reaches the 4.5:1 body-text contrast minimum from step 500 upward, so use step 500 or darker when a button label needs to be white. Near-black text stays readable on steps 50 to 400.
The darkest steps, 800 (#4F3442) through 950 (#2A1C23), make headings, body text and dark-mode surfaces that stay clearly related to eggplant. Using step 900 or 950 for text instead of pure black is one of the simplest ways to make an interface feel designed rather than default.
Colors that go with eggplant
How the eggplant color combinations work
Complementary. Directly across the color wheel from eggplant is #406150, which sits closest to hunter green among common named colors. Complementary pairs create the strongest contrast of hue, so use the second color sparingly, for a single call to action or highlight, rather than in equal amounts.
Analogous. #604061 and #614041 sit 30 degrees either side of eggplant. Analogous palettes feel calm and cohesive because the colors share undertones; they are ideal for illustrations, gradients and backgrounds where you want harmony more than contrast.
Triadic and split complementary. The triadic set (#516140 and #405161) is evenly spaced around the wheel and feels playful; the second color is closest to hunter green. The split complementary set (#416140 and #406160) keeps much of the complementary contrast but is easier to balance, which makes it a good choice for data visualization and multi-category tags.
Monochromatic. The monochromatic set runs from #B1899E to #191015. A single-hue palette is the safest way to build a calm, premium interface: rely on lightness for hierarchy, then add one neutral and one accent if you need emphasis.
Eggplant compared with similar colors
wine (#722F37) is about as light and more saturated, and leans further around the wheel toward red. Choose wine if you need more weight and contrast; choose eggplant if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
taupe (#483C32) is darker (24% vs 32% lightness) and similarly saturated, and leans back the wheel toward orange. Choose taupe if you need more weight and contrast; choose eggplant if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
charcoal (#36454F) is darker (26% vs 32% lightness) and similarly saturated, and leans back the wheel toward blue. Choose charcoal if you need more weight and contrast; choose eggplant if you want a quieter, more natural tone.
Eggplant in a real interface
Swatches only tell half the story. Here eggplant carries the primary action, with tints from its own scale for the surface and panels.
Weekly summary
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Using eggplant in UI: buttons, text, backgrounds and dark mode
- Buttons. Eggplant carries white labels at 8.9:1, which passes AA for normal text.
- Text. Eggplant works as text on white backgrounds.
- Backgrounds. Use steps 50 and 100 for large areas and keep the base color for smaller surfaces. Big blocks of a muted dark color draw attention, so give them a reason, like a hero section or pricing highlight.
- Dark mode. Steps 900 and 950 make a dark surface tinted with eggplant. On dark backgrounds the base color often needs a lighter step (300 or 400) to keep enough contrast for icons and borders, as required by WCAG non-text contrast.
- States. Shift one step darker for hover and two steps darker for pressed. Keep focus rings in a contrasting color so keyboard users can always see them.
Contrast and accessibility
AA needs 4.5:1 for body text and 3:1 for large text. AAA needs 7:1.
Color contrast is measured as a ratio from 1:1 (no contrast) to 21:1 (black on white). Eggplant scores 8.9:1 against white (AAA) and 2.36:1 against black (Fail). The WCAG 2.1 contrast guideline asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which is why the shade guide above recommends specific steps for text and labels.
Contrast is only half of accessibility. Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, so never use eggplant alone to signal meaning such as success, error or selection. Pair it with an icon, a label or a change in weight.
What eggplant means
Purple carries creativity, imagination and a touch of luxury. Light purples feel soft and calming; deep purples feel rich and mysterious.
Eggplant, or aubergine, is named after the vegetable's glossy dark purple skin. As a near-black purple, it is used by designers who want a dark color with more warmth and personality than black.
Purple is heavily used by AI and creative tools, so it can look generic. Desaturate it or pair it with warm neutrals to make it feel chosen rather than default.
Where eggplant works best
- Dark mode backgrounds
- Restaurants
- Luxury cosmetics
- Editorial design
How to style eggplant
Eggplant pairs with mustard, blush, cream and sage. It makes an excellent text and dark-mode color with white or cream text on top. Use it where black would feel too stark.
Build a UI with eggplant
Inspo AI generates a full React + Tailwind screen using #614051 as the brand color, grounded in real shipped designs.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Eggplant · History and definition of eggplant.
- WCAG 2.1: Contrast (Minimum) · The W3C rule behind the 4.5:1 and 3:1 thresholds used on this page.
- WCAG 2.1: Use of Color · Why color should never be the only way information is shown.
- MDN: CSS color values · Reference for hex, rgb() and hsl() syntax.
- Tailwind CSS: Customizing colors · How to add a custom color scale to your theme.
Similar colors
Questions people ask
What is the hex code for eggplant?
The hex code for eggplant used on this page is #614051. In RGB that is rgb(97, 64, 81), and in HSL it is hsl(329, 20%, 32%).
What colors go well with eggplant?
Eggplant pairs well with #3A2530, #F4EEF0, #C08497 (the Aubergine palette above). Its complementary color is #406150, and analogous colors are #604061 and #614041.
Is eggplant a warm or cool color?
Eggplant is a cool color. Its hue sits at 329 degrees on the color wheel with 20% saturation.
Can I use eggplant for text?
Eggplant has a contrast ratio of 8.9:1 against white and 2.36:1 against black. Body text needs at least 4.5:1, so it works as text on white backgrounds.
What does eggplant mean?
Purple carries creativity, imagination and a touch of luxury. Light purples feel soft and calming; deep purples feel rich and mysterious. Eggplant in particular is used for dark mode backgrounds and restaurants.
How do I use eggplant in Tailwind CSS?
Use an arbitrary value like bg-[#614051] for a one-off, or add the 50-950 scale from this page to theme.extend.colors in tailwind.config.js and use classes like bg-eggplant-500 and text-eggplant-900.
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