Color Converter
Convert colors between HEX, RGB, and HSL formats instantly. See live color preview and copy any format with one click.
Our free Color Converter instantly translates colors between HEX, RGB, and HSL formats — the three notations web designers and developers use most. Enter a color in any format and see the equivalent in all… Paste or type your input above; results update immediately. The tool runs in your browser and we don't store your data.
About This Calculator
Our free Color Converter instantly translates colors between HEX, RGB, and HSL formats — the three notations web designers and developers use most. Enter a color in any format and see the equivalent in all three, along with a live color preview swatch. Use it when copying a color from a design tool that shows RGB and you need the HEX code for CSS, when converting an HSL value from a style guide to RGB for a Canvas API call, or whenever you encounter a color notation you need to translate. The converter handles shorthand HEX (#F00), full HEX (#FF0000), RGB with or without the rgb() wrapper, and HSL with degree and percentage values.
How It Works
Enter a color in HEX format (#RRGGBB), RGB format (rgb(r, g, b) with values 0-255), or HSL format (hsl(h, s%, l%) with hue 0-360 and saturation/lightness 0-100%). The converter parses the input, runs the appropriate conversion algorithm (HEX to/from RGB is a base-16 translation; RGB to/from HSL uses the standard chroma-based formulas), and outputs the color in all three formats simultaneously. A color swatch updates in real time so you can visually confirm the conversion is correct.
How to Use
- Enter your values in the calculator fields above
- Click the calculate button or let the calculator auto-update
- Review your results instantly
- Adjust values as needed to see different scenarios
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HEX, RGB, and HSL?
HEX represents a color as a six-digit hexadecimal number (#FF5733) — compact and widely used in CSS. RGB specifies the red, green, and blue channel intensities from 0 to 255 (rgb(255, 87, 51)) — intuitive for understanding color mixing. HSL describes a color by hue (0-360 degrees on the color wheel), saturation (0-100%), and lightness (0-100%) — easiest for creating variations of a color (lighter, darker, more or less vivid).
Which color format should I use in CSS?
All three are valid in CSS. HEX is the most common and compact. RGB is useful when you need to set opacity (rgba). HSL is ideal when you want to programmatically adjust lightness or saturation (e.g., creating hover states by increasing lightness by 10%). Modern CSS also supports oklch and color() for wider gamuts, but HEX/RGB/HSL cover 99% of use cases.
How do I make a color lighter or darker?
The easiest way is with HSL. To lighten a color, increase the L (lightness) value; to darken it, decrease L. For example, hsl(217, 91%, 60%) is a medium blue — change it to hsl(217, 91%, 80%) for a lighter tint or hsl(217, 91%, 30%) for a darker shade. Convert to HEX or RGB afterward using this tool.
Can I convert CMYK colors with this tool?
This converter focuses on screen-based formats (HEX, RGB, HSL). CMYK is used for print and requires a different conversion that depends on the ICC color profile. For CMYK needs, use our Color Picker tool which includes CMYK output, or a dedicated print-design application like Adobe Illustrator.
Is this tool free and private?
Yes. All color conversions happen locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server, no account is needed, and there are no usage limits.
Why Use Our Free Color Converter Online?
Our Color Converter runs in the browser so you can format, convert, or generate without sending data to our servers. No account needed—paste or type, get your result. We offer more dev tools (JSON, Base64, JWT, UUID, timestamps, and more) in the list below.