Tetrad Color Scheme Generator Online — Free
Runs 100% in your browser — your files never leave your device.
A tetradic scheme uses two complementary pairs — four colors forming a rectangle on the color wheel. It is the richest of the classic schemes and rewards a careful hand: let one color dominate and use the other three as accents. Enter a base color and copy all four hex values.
How it works
- 1
Paste a base color
Enter any HEX, RGB, or HSL value — it anchors the scheme.
- 2
Read the scheme
Four swatches appear: the base, its complement, and two hues 60° around.
- 3
Copy each color
One click copies any swatch hex value to your clipboard.
About this tool
How the tetrad is built
The tool builds a rectangle on the hue wheel: your color plus three others at 90-degree steps, all at the same saturation and lightness. Two complementary pairs share one scheme — the richest of the geometric harmonies.
When to reach for it
Dense dashboards, illustrated compositions, and playful brands use tetrads when two or three colors cannot carry the variety needed. The scheme gives every color a natural opposite, which keeps pairs of accents available for highlights and warnings.
Taming a tetrad
Four full-strength colors compete hard. Let one dominate at 60–70 percent of the color usage, treat the complementary partner as its counterweight, and mute the remaining pair with the saturation tool. The geometry provides the harmony; restraint provides the taste.
Frequently asked questions
How is a tetrad different from a square scheme?
They share the same geometry — four colors 90 degrees apart. The terms are used interchangeably; this tool generates the same set either way.
Which color should dominate a tetrad?
The one closest to your brand or subject. Give it most of the visual area, use its opposite sparingly for emphasis, and let the remaining two serve as supporting cast.
Can I adjust the colors individually afterward?
Yes — copy each member and run it through the color converter to vary lightness and saturation. Real-world tetrads almost always vary the members rather than using identical values.