What you need before you start
Canva works with hex codes. They're six-character codes preceded by a pound sign (#), like #1F6FD1.
If you don't have a palette yet, you can make one with our palette generator. Each color shows its hex code, and you can copy it with one click.
If you have a color in RGB, for example from a brand style guide, convert it to hex with our color converter.
How to enter a hex code in Canva
- Select the element you want to color: text, a shape or the background.
- Click the color tile in the top toolbar. The color panel opens on the side.
- Click the Add a new color button, shown with a + sign.
- In the color picker, find the field that shows the current hex code.
- Delete the code and paste yours, for example #E4322B. Press Enter.
The color is applied to the element. It also shows up under Document colors, so you can reuse it on other elements in the same design.
The picker also has an eyedropper for copying a color from an image or another part of the screen. Availability may vary by browser and app version.
Save your palette to the Brand Kit
If you use the same colors often, save them to your Brand Kit. That way they're on hand in all your designs.
- From the Canva home page, go to the Brand or Brand Kit section.
- Find the colors area and create a new palette.
- Add each color with its hex code and give the palette a name.
- When you edit any design, your brand colors will appear in the color panel.
Brand Kit options depend on your plan. Paid accounts, like Canva Pro or Canva Teams, let you save multiple palettes, logos and fonts. The free version is more limited. Exact menu names may change with updates.
Apply a full palette to a design
Canva has a Styles feature that applies a set of colors to the whole design at once. When you click a palette, the colors are spread across backgrounds, text and shapes. Each click tries a different arrangement.
It's a quick way to test your palette on a template. Then review the result and fix anything that doesn't fit by hand.
Tips for using colors in Canva
- Before you start, write down your hex codes somewhere you can always find them. That way you avoid slight variations.
- Use only a few colors: one dominant, one secondary and one accent.
- Check the contrast of text on colored backgrounds. You can do it with our contrast checker.
- If you're going to print, keep in mind that colors can shift on paper. Very bright on-screen tones usually look duller.
- When you change a template's colors, also check the icons and illustrations, which may have their own colors.