CSS Named Colors

Browse all 148 CSS named colors with their HEX and RGB values.

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Total Colors: 148Matches: 148Filter: All

Using CSS named colors

CSS ships with 148 named colors — keywords like tomato, rebeccapurple, and cornflowerblue — that you can drop straight into a stylesheet without a hex code. They are handy for quick prototypes and readable defaults. Click any swatch to copy its hex value; the RGB equivalent is shown for when you need an rgb() or rgba() value.

Need a specific shade? Convert with the color converter, build a palette with the color shades generator, or check legibility with the contrast checker.

Built and maintained by Meet Shah · Last updated 19 July 2026

What this tool is used for

Browsing the named colours to find one close to what you want.
Checking a named colour's hex value before hard-coding either form.
Choosing a quick placeholder colour during development.
Confirming which name a colour value corresponds to.
Comparing similarly named colours side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many named colours are there?: 148, including `transparent` and the CSS-wide keywords' companions. The list is fixed by the specification, so a name outside it is invalid and the declaration is simply dropped.
Why are the names so inconsistent?: Because they accumulated from the X11 window system rather than being designed. That is why there are four near-identical greys, why `darkgray` is lighter than `gray`, and why several names describe nothing recognisable.
Do the British spellings work?: Yes — `grey` and `gray` are both accepted, as are the compounds such as `darkgrey`. They map to identical values, so the choice is purely stylistic.
Should I use named colours in production?: For quick prototypes and debugging, they are convenient. A real design system needs values that fit its palette, and named colours are a fixed set nobody chose for your brand.
Is `transparent` a colour?: It is a keyword equivalent to `rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)` — fully transparent black. That matters for gradients, where interpolating to `transparent` can pass through grey unless you specify a transparent version of the same hue.

Common errors and gotchas

Assuming the named colours form a coherent palette, when they are a historical accident.
Assuming a name is memorable enough to use without checking, when several are counter-intuitive.
Using a named colour in a brand context where the exact value matters.
Assuming `grey` and `gray` differ, when both spellings map to the same value.
Relying on a name being intuitive, since several are nothing like their name suggests.