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Color Converter

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Convert between HEX, RGB and HSL, preview the color and explore harmony palettes.

Free to use · No account needed

How to use

  1. Use the color picker, or paste any supported format: #185FA5, #18a, rgb(24, 95, 165), hsl(210, 75%, 37%).
  2. All three formats update instantly, with a large preview swatch.
  3. Scroll down for automatic palettes: complementary, analogous, triadic and shades.

Use cases

1. Use case: Match brand colors Convert a HEX brand color from your style guide into RGB or HSL to use in gradients, shadows and design tokens.

2. Use case: Debug CSS colors Copy a color from dev tools in RGB, convert it to HEX, and compare it against a design mockup.

Practical tips

Hex colors support a three-digit shorthand (#F00 equals #FF0000), and both notations arrive in the wild, so paste either. RGB channels run 0–255, not 0–100 percent — a common source of muddy conversions. If a design needs transparency, you need RGBA or HSLA, not plain hex. When matching a brand color across materials, convert once and record both formats rather than eyeballing re-conversions. Like every tool on this site, the Color Converter runs entirely in your browser: the data you enter never leaves your device, nothing is uploaded to a server, and the tool keeps working if your connection drops.

Common mistakes

Color conversion errors are almost always notation errors:

  • Typing RGB values above 255 or below 0 — channels clamp, and the muted result gets mistaken for the color itself being wrong.
  • Losing characters when copying hex: a five-digit paste of a six-digit code is a different color entirely.
  • Expecting plain hex to carry transparency: opacity needs the eight-digit #RRGGBBAA notation or RGBA/HSL, not six-digit hex.
  • Matching colors across screens without accounting for calibration — the same RGB value renders differently on two monitors.

Why use this tool

Record and reuse beats re-deriving by eye:

  • Recording both hex and RGB for a brand kit, so every future asset matches without guesswork.
  • Checking that a color survives notation changes — convert once and store both forms in your design tokens.
  • Working across tools that expect different notations: CSS wants rgb() or hex, while many design tools prefer HSL.
  • Debugging why a color looks wrong — exact values reveal transcription typos that eyeballing hides.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Color Converter send my data anywhere?

No. It runs entirely in your browser — your input is processed on your device and never uploaded. Refresh the page and it still works offline.

Should I store hex or RGB in my design tokens?
Either renders identically; pick one and stay consistent. Hex is compact and universally understood, while RGB(A) makes opacity explicit and is easier to manipulate programmatically. The real failure is mixing formats across files, which invites typos.
What is the difference between RGB and HSL, and when should I use each?
RGB describes how screens mix light (red, green, blue channels); HSL describes the same color as hue, saturation and lightness, which matches how people reason about color. Use RGB for exact screen values and HSL when you need to lighten a color or build tints.
Why does my converted color look different in print?
Screens emit light (RGB) while print reflects it (CMYK), so some bright screen colors cannot be reproduced in ink. Route anything going to print through a CMYK-aware workflow and proof physically before the full run.
When should I use HEX, RGB or HSL?
HEX is compact and works everywhere in CSS. RGB is familiar from Photoshop and Figma. HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) is the most intuitive: adjust lightness or saturation without changing hue - great for building consistent palettes.
How do I get a complementary color?
A complementary color sits opposite on the color wheel (hue + 180 degrees). This tool generates complementary, analogous and triadic palettes automatically from any input color.
Does it support 3-digit hex like #f00?
Yes. Short hex codes (#f00, #abc) are expanded automatically, and rgb()/hsl() strings are also accepted in the input box.

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