mkdocs-material/docs/setup/changing-the-colors.md

---
template: overrides/main.html
---

# Changing the colors

As any proper Material Design implementation, Material for MkDocs supports
Google's original [color palette][1], which can be easily configured through 
`mkdocs.yml`. Furthermore, colors can be customized with a few lines of CSS to
fit your brand's identity by using [CSS variables][2].

  [1]: http://www.materialui.co/colors
  [2]: #custom-colors

## Configuration

### Color palette

#### Color scheme

[:octicons-file-code-24: Source][3] · :octicons-milestone-24: Default: `default`

Material for MkDocs supports two _color schemes_: a light mode, which is just
called `default`, and a dark mode, which is called `slate`. The color scheme
can be set via `mkdocs.yml`:

``` yaml
theme:
  palette:
    scheme: default
```

_Click on a tile to change the color scheme_:

<div class="mdx-switch">
  <button data-md-color-scheme="default"><code>default</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-scheme="slate"><code>slate</code></button>
</div>

<script>
  var buttons = document.querySelectorAll("button[data-md-color-scheme]")
  buttons.forEach(function(button) {
    button.addEventListener("click", function() {
      var attr = this.getAttribute("data-md-color-scheme")
      document.body.setAttribute("data-md-color-scheme", attr)
      var name = document.querySelector("#__code_1 code span:nth-child(7)")
      name.textContent = attr
    })
  })
</script>

  [3]: https://github.com/squidfunk/mkdocs-material/blob/master/src/assets/stylesheets/palette/_scheme.scss

#### Primary color

[:octicons-file-code-24: Source][4] · :octicons-milestone-24: Default: `indigo`

The _primary color_ is used for the header, the sidebar, text links and several
other components. In order to change the primary color, set the following value
in `mkdocs.yml` to a valid color name:

``` yaml
theme:
  palette:
    primary: indigo
```

_Click on a tile to change the primary color_:

<div class="mdx-switch">
  <button data-md-color-primary="red"><code>red</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="pink"><code>pink</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="purple"><code>purple</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="deep-purple"><code>deep purple</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="indigo"><code>indigo</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="blue"><code>blue</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="light-blue"><code>light blue</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="cyan"><code>cyan</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="teal"><code>teal</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="green"><code>green</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="light-green"><code>light green</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="lime"><code>lime</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="yellow"><code>yellow</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="amber"><code>amber</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="orange"><code>orange</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="deep-orange"><code>deep orange</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="brown"><code>brown</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="grey"><code>grey</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="blue-grey"><code>blue grey</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="black"><code>black</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-primary="white"><code>white</code></button>
</div>

<script>
  var buttons = document.querySelectorAll("button[data-md-color-primary]")
  buttons.forEach(function(button) {
    button.addEventListener("click", function() {
      var attr = this.getAttribute("data-md-color-primary")
      document.body.setAttribute("data-md-color-primary", attr)
      var name = document.querySelector("#__code_2 code span:nth-child(7)")
      name.textContent = attr.replace("-", " ")
    })
  })
</script>

  [4]: https://github.com/squidfunk/mkdocs-material/blob/master/src/assets/stylesheets/palette/_primary.scss

#### Accent color

[:octicons-file-code-24: Source][5] · :octicons-milestone-24: Default: `indigo`

The _accent color_ is used to denote elements that can be interacted with, e.g.
hovered links, buttons and scrollbars. It can be changed in `mkdocs.yml` by
choosing a valid color name:

``` yaml
theme:
  palette:
    accent: indigo
```

_Click on a tile to change the accent color_:

<style>
  .md-typeset button[data-md-color-accent] > code {
    background-color: var(--md-code-bg-color);
    color: var(--md-accent-fg-color);
  }
</style>

<div class="mdx-switch">
  <button data-md-color-accent="red"><code>red</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="pink"><code>pink</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="purple"><code>purple</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="deep-purple"><code>deep purple</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="indigo"><code>indigo</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="blue"><code>blue</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="light-blue"><code>light blue</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="cyan"><code>cyan</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="teal"><code>teal</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="green"><code>green</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="light-green"><code>light green</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="lime"><code>lime</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="yellow"><code>yellow</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="amber"><code>amber</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="orange"><code>orange</code></button>
  <button data-md-color-accent="deep-orange"><code>deep orange</code></button>
</div>

<script>
  var buttons = document.querySelectorAll("button[data-md-color-accent]")
  buttons.forEach(function(button) {
    button.addEventListener("click", function() {
      var attr = this.getAttribute("data-md-color-accent")
      document.body.setAttribute("data-md-color-accent", attr)
      var name = document.querySelector("#__code_3 code span:nth-child(7)")
      name.textContent = attr.replace("-", " ")
    })
  })
</script>

  [5]: https://github.com/squidfunk/mkdocs-material/blob/master/src/assets/stylesheets/palette/_accent.scss

### Color palette toggle

[:octicons-file-code-24: Source][6] · :octicons-milestone-24: Default: _none_

It's also possible to offer a list of color palettes to the user, each of which
can include a [`scheme`][7], [`primary`][8] and [`accent`][9] color each. The
user can toggle between those color palettes:

``` yaml hl_lines="4-6 8-10"
theme:
  palette:
    - scheme: default
      toggle:
        icon: material/toggle-switch-off-outline
        name: Switch to dark mode
    - scheme: slate
      toggle:
        icon: material/toggle-switch
        name: Switch to light mode
```

The following fields must be set for each toggle:

`icon`{ #icon }

:   :octicons-milestone-24: Default: _none_ · :octicons-alert-24: Required –
    This field must point to a valid icon path referencing [any icon bundled
    with the theme][10], or the build will not succeed. Some popular
    combinations:

    * :material-toggle-switch-off-outline: + :material-toggle-switch: – `material/toggle-switch-off-outline` + `material/toggle-switch`
    * :material-weather-sunny: + :material-weather-night: – `material/weather-sunny` + `material/weather-night`
    * :material-eye-outline: + :material-eye: – `material/eye-outline` + `material/eye`
    * :material-lightbulb-outline: + :material-lightbulb: – `material/lightbulb-outline` + `material/lightbulb`

`name`{ #name }

:   :octicons-milestone-24: Default: _none_ · :octicons-alert-24: Required –
    This field is used as the toggle's `title` attribute and should be set to a
    discernable name to improve accessibility.

  [6]: https://github.com/squidfunk/mkdocs-material/blob/master/src/partials/header.html
  [7]: #color-scheme
  [8]: #primary-color
  [9]: #accent-color
  [10]: https://github.com/squidfunk/mkdocs-material/tree/master/material/.icons

### System preference

[:octicons-file-code-24: Source][6] · :octicons-milestone-24: Default: _none_

In order to automatically set the color palette to the user's system preference,
a media query can be set as part of the `media` field next to the toggle
definition in `mkdocs.yml`:

``` yaml hl_lines="3 8"
theme:
  palette:
    - media: "(prefers-color-scheme: light)"
      scheme: default
      toggle:
        icon: material/toggle-switch-off-outline
        name: Switch to dark mode
    - media: "(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"
      scheme: slate
      toggle:
        icon: material/toggle-switch
        name: Switch to light mode
```

When the user first visits your site, the media queries are evaluated in the
order of their definition. The first media query that matches selects the
default color palette.

!!! warning "Accessibility – not all color combinations work well"

    With __2__ (color schemes) __x 21__ (primary colors) __x 17__ (accent color)
    = __714__ combinations, it's impossible to ensure that all configurations
    provide a good user experience (e.g. _yellow on light background_). Make
    sure that the color combination of your choosing provides enough contrast
    and tweak CSS variables where necessary.

## Customization

### Custom colors

[:octicons-file-code-24: Source][11] ·
:octicons-mortar-board-24: Difficulty: _easy_

Material for MkDocs implements colors using [CSS variables][12] (custom
properties). If you want to customize the colors beyond the palette (e.g. to
use your brand-specific colors), you can add an [additional style sheet][13] and
tweak the values of the CSS variables.

Let's say you're :fontawesome-brands-youtube:{ style="color: #EE0F0F" }
__YouTube__, and want to set the primary color to your brand's palette. Just
add:

``` css
:root {
  --md-primary-fg-color:        #EE0F0F;
  --md-primary-fg-color--light: #ECB7B7;
  --md-primary-fg-color--dark:  #90030C;
}
```

See the file containing the [color definitions][11] for a list of all CSS
variables.

  [11]: https://github.com/squidfunk/mkdocs-material/blob/master/src/assets/stylesheets/main/_colors.scss
  [12]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/Using_CSS_custom_properties
  [13]: ../customization.md#additional-css


### Custom color schemes

[:octicons-file-code-24: Source][11] ·
:octicons-mortar-board-24: Difficulty: _easy_

Besides overriding specific colors, you can create your own, named color scheme
by wrapping the definitions in the `#!css [data-md-color-scheme="..."]`
[attribute selector][14], which you can then set via `mkdocs.yml` as described
in the [color schemes][7] section:

``` css
[data-md-color-scheme="youtube"] {
  --md-primary-fg-color:        #EE0F0F;
  --md-primary-fg-color--light: #ECB7B7;
  --md-primary-fg-color--dark:  #90030C;
}
```

Additionally, the `slate` color scheme defines all of it's colors via `hsla`
color functions and deduces its colors from the `--md-hue` CSS variable. You
can tune the `slate` theme with:

``` css
[data-md-color-scheme="slate"] {
  --md-hue: 210; /* [0, 360] */
}
```

  [14]: https://www.w3.org/TR/selectors-4/#attribute-selectors