Purple color · XKCD survey name
Dark Lilac Color Code: #9C6DA5
Dark Lilac (#9C6DA5) is a medium, muted magenta shade: RGB 156, 109, 165, HSL 290°, 24%, 54%. Black text reads best on it (5.14:1 contrast).
Dark Lilac color values
#9C6DA5
rgb(156, 109, 165)
hsl(290, 24%, 54%)
290, 34%, 65%
hwb(290 43% 35%)
5%, 34%, 0%, 35%
10251685
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Dark Lilac?
“Dark Lilac” is a crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey, in which participants typed names for colors they were shown. It is a popular everyday label rather than an official standard.
Its hue angle of 290° places it in the magenta part of the color wheel, with 24% saturation (muted) and 54% lightness (medium). It sits between warm and cool.
Compared with the other purple colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 53% of them and more saturated than 11% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.207, which makes it a mid-tone color. That is above the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so black text has the advantage.
Dark Lilac counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 54% and its relative luminance is 0.207. Black text reads best on it (5.14:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Dark Lilac
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 4.08:1 Limited | Fail | Pass | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 5.14:1 Good | Pass | Pass | Fail | Pass |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Dark Lilac
Complementary color
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They give the strongest hue contrast, which suits calls to action and accents.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors are neighbors on the wheel, 30° either side of the base hue. They blend smoothly and are easy to combine in backgrounds, gradients and illustrations.
Triadic colors
A triadic scheme uses three hues spaced 120° apart. It is lively yet balanced, and works best when one color leads and the other two act as accents.
Split-complementary colors
Split-complementary keeps the base color and uses the two colors on either side of its complement (150° and 210°). The contrast is strong but gentler than a direct complement.
Tetradic colors
A tetradic (rectangle) scheme combines two complementary pairs at 0°, 60°, 180° and 240°. It offers variety but needs one dominant color to stay balanced.
Monochromatic variants
Monochromatic variants keep the same hue and saturation and only change lightness, which makes them dependable for UI scales and subtle layered designs.
A “≈” before a name means the exact harmony color has no named match, so the link goes to the closest named color.
Tints and shades of Dark Lilac
Lighter tints (mixed with white)
Darker shades (mixed with black)
Select any swatch to copy its HEX code. Build longer scales with the tints and shades tool.
Similar colors
Where to use Dark Lilac
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.14:1 contrast with black)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- Large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough
- Illustrations and hero sections
- Tags, badges and highlights
- Creative and entertainment branding
Use Dark Lilac in CSS
:root {
--color-dark-lilac: #9C6DA5;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-dark-lilac);
background-color: #9C6DA5;
border: 2px solid #9C6DA5;
}Questions about Dark Lilac
What is the HEX code for Dark Lilac?
Dark Lilac is #9C6DA5.
What is the RGB value of Dark Lilac?
The RGB value of Dark Lilac is 156, 109, 165: 156 red, 109 green and 165 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(156, 109, 165) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Dark Lilac?
The HSL value of Dark Lilac is 290°, 24%, 54% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(290, 24%, 54%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Dark Lilac?
A standard conversion gives about C 5%, M 34%, Y 0%, K 35%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Dark Lilac a light or dark color?
Dark Lilac counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 54% and its relative luminance is 0.207. Black text reads best on it (5.14:1 contrast).
How does Dark Lilac look with white text?
White text on Dark Lilac has a contrast ratio of 4.08:1, rated Limited. It does not reach WCAG AA for normal text; use large text only.
How does Dark Lilac look with black text?
Black text on Dark Lilac has a contrast ratio of 5.14:1, rated Good. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Dark Lilac?
Dusty Green is its complementary color, and Dark Lavender sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Dark Lilac be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (5.14:1 contrast with black); calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements; large headings, icons and graphics, where a 3:1 contrast ratio is enough.
How do I use Dark Lilac in CSS?
Use color: #9C6DA5; for text, background-color: #9C6DA5; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-dark-lilac: #9C6DA5; and reuse it with var(--color-dark-lilac).
About this color page
Crowd-sourced name from the XKCD Color Survey (CC0). Values are calculated from the HEX code; color names are labels, not trademarks or standards unless stated. Screens render colors differently, so always check important colors on your own device. See the disclaimer.