What makes a color 'pastel'?

Pastel colors combine high lightness with moderate (not maximum) saturation, giving them a soft, washed-out quality compared to fully saturated, vivid colors of the same hue.

Can I get the same pastel color twice?

Each click generates a new random hue, so results will vary — if you want to keep a specific shade, note down its hex code before generating another.

Pastel Color Generator

Generate a random pastel color — a soft, muted color characterized by high lightness and moderate saturation — useful for backgrounds, UI accents, or design inspiration when you need a gentle color palette.

Inputs

Results

Pastel Color (hex): #C6DBEC
HSL Value: hsl(206, 49%, 85%)

Try an example

Formula

Random hue, saturation 40-60%, lightness 80-90%, converted from HSL to hex

Learn How This Works

Color Temperature and Mood: From Kelvin to Pastel Palettes

How color temperature in Kelvin, mireds, perceived brightness, and pastel generation all shape the mood a color communicates.

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