Alexa understands alot of different color names, but it’s tough to find an exhaustive list with all Alexa Smart Light colors. On top of that, brands have there own color lists, like this Phillips Hue color list. Additionally, you even find strange names that aren’t color related but mood related, like “relax”.
To help with this confusion, below is a complete list of light color names that Alexa understands. This list includes Phillips Hue colors, LifX colors, and other branded light colors. Colors are an approximation. What you see with your Smart Light might be a bit different.
Quick note: If you use a different assistant, I also create lists for the other major assistants below:
Update: I pulled out the shades of white to make those easier to find. Want to know how to get the most out of Alexa? Check out my new weekly series, Keeping Up With Alexa.
Table of Contents
Supported Alexa Smart Light Colors
These Alexa colors are listed by manufacturers and they work for me. If you’re having trouble with any of them, let me know in the comments below.
“Alexa, set the light to …”, “Alexa, make the lights …”,
Blue Color Names
Aqua | |
Azure | |
Blue | |
Cadet Blue | |
Cornflower | |
Cyan | |
Dark Blue | |
Dark Turquoise | |
Deep Sky Blue | |
Dodger Blue | |
Light Sky Blue | |
Medium Blue | |
Medium Turquoise | |
Navy Blue | |
Pale Turquoise | |
Powder Blue | |
Royal Blue | |
Steel Blue | |
Turquoise |
Dark Green Color Names
Black | |
Dark Cyan | |
Dark Green | |
Dark Olive Green | |
Dark Slate Gray | |
Forest Green | |
Olive | |
Olive Drab | |
Sea Green | |
Teal |
Green Color Names
Aquamarine | |
Chartreuse | |
Dark Sea Green | |
Green | |
Lawn Green | |
Light Green | |
Light Sea Green | |
Lime Green | |
Medium Aquamarine | |
Medium Sea Green | |
Medium Spring Green | |
Pale Green | |
Spring Green | |
Web Green |
Orange Color Names
Chocolate | |
Coral | |
Dark Goldenrod | |
Dark Orange | |
Goldenrod | |
Indian Red | |
Orange | |
Orange Red | |
Peru | |
Salmon | |
Sandy Brown | |
Tomato |
Pinks Color Names
Antique White | |
Bisque | |
Blanched Almond | |
Burlywood | |
Dark Gray | |
Dark Khaki | |
Dark Salmon | |
Daylight | |
Gainsboro | |
Hot Pink | |
Khaki | |
Light Coral | |
Light Gray | |
Light Pink | |
Light Salmon | |
Light Steel Blue | |
Medium Orchid | |
Medium Purple | |
Moccasin | |
Navajo White | |
Olive Green | |
Orchid | |
Pale Goldenrod | |
Peach Puff | |
Pink | |
Plum | |
Relax | |
Rosy Brown | |
Silver | |
Tan | |
Thistle | |
Violet | |
Wheat |
Purple Color Names
Blue Violet | |
Dark Magenta | |
Dark Orchid | |
Dark Slate Blue | |
Dark Violet | |
Deep Pink | |
Dim Gray | |
Fuchsia | |
Indigo | |
Magenta | |
Medium Slate Blue | |
Medium Violet Red | |
Midnight Blue | |
Purple | |
Rebecca Purple | |
Saddle Brown | |
Sienna | |
Slate Gray | |
Web Gray | |
Web Purple |
Reds Color Names
Brown | |
Crimson | |
Dark Red | |
Firebrick | |
Maroon | |
Pale Violet Red | |
Red | |
Web Maroon |
White Color Names
Alice Blue | |
Beige | |
Cornsilk | |
Floral White | |
Ghost White | |
Honeydew | |
Ivory | |
Lavender | |
Lavender Blush | |
Lemon Chiffon | |
Light Cyan | |
Light Goldenrod | |
Light Yellow | |
Linen | |
Mint Cream | |
Misty Rose | |
Old Lace | |
Papaya Whip | |
Seashell | |
Snow | |
Soft White | |
Warm White | |
White | |
White Smoke |
Yellows Color Names
Gold | |
Green Yellow | |
Lime | |
Yellow | |
Yellow Green |
Unsupported Alexa Light Colors
These Alexa colors are listed as supported by manufacturers, but they don’t seem to actually work. If they’re working for you instead, leave a comment below.
Almond | |
Anti-Flash White | |
Bone | |
Bubbles | |
Cool White | |
Cornsilk | |
Cosmic Latte | |
Eggshell | |
Glitter | |
Isabelline | |
Sky Blue | |
Timberwolf |
FAQ
Can different manufacturers support different colors on Alexa?
Not really. All manufacturers should support the same color names.
The ins and outs of how Alexa and manufactures pass color information is some useful information to know. Alexa is responsible for knowing the various color names above, but Smart Light manufacturers are not. Instead, Alexa supplies these manufacturers with something called the HSB Color System. Manufacturers then use these values to change the light color.
Manufacturers don’t need to know the color name that you tell Alexa. Instead, Alexa controls the color naming, not manufacturers themselves, although they do control what the actual color is on the light.
If you’re really curious how Alexa communicates colors with manufacturers, check out the developer documentation.
What HSB color values are being sent to manufacturers?
Tough to say as Amazon doesn’t post this info directly. However, color values should be pretty close to this color list.
Where did you find these color names?
I checked around for Phillips Hue colors and LIFX color documentation. These were the best two sources, but they aren’t the only sources. If you know more, please let me know in the comments below.
Why are some colors not supported?
These are colors that manufacturers claim are supported, but don’t seem to actually work (as of Feb 2020). For example, Alexa doesn’t understand the color “sky”.
Do these colors work for every Voice Assistant, like Siri and Google Assistant?
Each Voice Assistant understands many, but not all of the same colors. You can find other Voice Assistant Color Lists by looking at these Smart Light color articles.
Can you dim or brighten smart lights?
Absolutely. All of these colors also support also dim and brighten commands, assuming you’re smart light bulb support it.
Try, “Alexa, make it brighter” or “Alexa, set the light to 50 percent”
Is there any way to add these colours to the Alexa app’s colour menu?
Sadly no. Amazon doesn’t allow this currently.
Can the colors rotate automatically without specifically asked for each change?
Yes, but it takes a bit more setup to do. Stay tuned for another article for this feature.
Cool White works for me
Everything but the cost (per bulb) presumably purchased fro Amazon? Does it have a dimmer command? 3 years ago I threw out all my incandescent bulbs & replaced with LEDs. The Chinese made color bulbs each has its own remote and dims by 4 stages. Now, alongside Alexa they seem dated but it’s all down to cost and “dim-ability”.
you can dim the connected LEDS by asking alexa to Dim the __light name__ to whatever percentage you’d like.
**Manufacturers
Misspelled over a dozen times for the masses on a professional website. lol
Thanks for the heads up! Fixed.
Where did the Colour Cool White came from?
Most of these colors are from the HTML5 color specification
Can the colors rotate automatically without specifically asked for each change?
You can create an automation in the Alexa app and add wait times in between color changes, but it gets annoying having to re-run the automation after a while.
Is there any way to add these colours to the Alexa app’s colour menu?
Not yet sadly
Thanks for all the comments and keep them coming! I’ll keep updating the page for everyone to benefit from