Color Converter
Convert between HEX, RGB, and HSL color formats with bidirectional editing — change any value and all others update instantly. The native browser color picker provides visual selection, while precise numeric inputs enable exact color specification. Copy CSS-ready formats directly for web development and design work.
What does this tool do?
The Color Converter provides bidirectional conversion between the three primary web color formats. HEX (hexadecimal) uses #RRGGBB or #RGB format with values 00-FF per channel. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) uses decimal values 0-255 per channel, commonly written as rgb(255, 0, 128). HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) uses hue in degrees (0-360) and saturation/lightness as percentages (0-100%), written as hsl(300, 50%, 50%). A live color swatch shows the current color, and copy buttons provide CSS-ready formats for immediate use in stylesheets.
How it works
Color values are converted using standard color space mathematics. HEX to RGB: each pair of hex digits converts to decimal 0-255. RGB to HSL: RGB values are normalized to 0-1, max and min determine lightness, saturation depends on lightness range, and hue is calculated from which RGB component is largest using trigonometric formulas. HSL to RGB reverses this process. When you edit any field, the color is parsed, converted to all three representations, and displayed. The browser's native color input provides OS-integrated color picking on supporting platforms.
Features
- HEX ↔ RGB ↔ HSL — edit any value, others update
- Native browser color picker integration
- Live color swatch preview
- Copy CSS rgb(...) or hsl(...) with one click
- Hex8 (with alpha) reference for design tools
- Bidirectional real-time conversion
- Validates input ranges for each format
How to use
- 1
Pick or enter a color
Use the native color picker, paste a hex code, or enter RGB/HSL values directly. Any valid color value is accepted.
- 2
Fine-tune with sliders or numbers
Adjust R/G/B sliders for precise color channel control, or modify H/S/L values to shift hue or adjust saturation and brightness.
- 3
Copy CSS format
Click Copy CSS on your preferred format — hex for compactness, rgb for readability, or hsl for intuitive adjustments.
- 4
Use Hex8 for design tools
The Hex8 field shows #RRGGBBAA format with alpha. Copy this for design tools like Figma or Photoshop that support hex with transparency.
Common use cases
Web development
Convert design mockup colors to CSS values, adjust palette colors mathematically via HSL, and copy exact hex codes for implementation.
Graphic design
Translate colors between design tools that use different formats, and verify color accuracy across HEX, RGB, and HSL representations.
Color scheme exploration
Use HSL to create variations: adjust hue for complementary colors, saturation for intensity control, lightness for tints and shades.
Accessibility checking
Convert colors to verify contrast ratios and ensure designs meet WCAG accessibility standards for color visibility.
Tips & best practices
- HSL is more intuitive for color adjustments than RGB — change hue without affecting brightness, or adjust saturation without changing the base color
- HEX is most compact for CSS (7 chars vs 16+ for rgb/hsl), but rgb() and hsl() are more readable and support CSS calc() operations
- Use the native color picker (click the color input) for visual selection — it integrates with OS color pickers on macOS and Windows
- For grayscale, use HSL with 0% saturation — any hue value works, only L (lightness) affects the result