Color Converter
Free online tool to convert between HEX, RGB, and HSL color formats in real-time. Features color picker, CSS code output, and color history.
Color Converter
What is Color Converter?
Color Converter is an online tool that converts between HEX, RGB, and HSL color formats in real-time—three essential formats for web design and development. Whether you need to convert RGB values from Photoshop to HEX codes for CSS, or switch to HSL to adjust brightness while maintaining the same hue, this tool handles it all seamlessly.
Simply enter a color value and watch it instantly convert to all other formats, with a live preview showing the actual color. Copy any converted color code with a single click for immediate use in your projects, significantly boosting your workflow efficiency.
When to Use This Tool
- Web Development – Convert RGB colors from design mockups to HEX codes for CSS stylesheets
- UI/UX Design – Create color variations by adjusting brightness or saturation while keeping the same hue (using HSL)
- Building Color Palettes – Extract multiple shades from a base color with consistent hue
- Cross-Platform Work – Unify color values between Photoshop (RGB), Illustrator (HEX), and CSS (various formats)
- Accessibility Testing – Get precise color values for contrast ratio calculations
- Presentations – Quickly find and copy color codes for slides and documents
Key Features
- Real-Time Bidirectional Conversion – Enter any HEX, RGB, or HSL value and all other formats update instantly. No need to click a convert button.
- Visual Color Picker – Select colors directly from a color wheel. Find your desired color visually even without knowing the exact values.
- Instant CSS Code Copy – Copy CSS code like
color: #D4AF37;with one click. Choose between HEX, RGB, or HSL output formats. - Auto-Saved Color History – Your used colors are automatically saved for easy reuse. History persists even after closing the browser.
- Random Color Generator – Generate random colors when you need fresh inspiration for your designs.
- Intuitive Input Controls – RGB uses 0-255 range inputs, HSL uses a hue wheel (0-360°) and percentages—each format optimized for its characteristics.
How to Use
- Select a Color – Click the color picker to choose from the color wheel, or directly enter known values in the HEX/RGB/HSL input fields.
- Preview in Real-Time – Your selected color appears instantly in the preview area. All three formats are automatically calculated and displayed simultaneously.
- Copy the Code – Click the “Copy” button next to any format to copy it to your clipboard. For CSS code, use the “Copy CSS” button below.
- Use Color History – Previously used colors are auto-saved in the history section. Click any color chip to instantly apply that color.
Color Formats Explained
HEX (Hexadecimal Color Code)
The most widely used color format on the web. Expressed as #RRGGBB, where Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B) values are each represented as two hexadecimal digits from 00 to FF.
- Examples:
#D4AF37(gold),#FF5733(orange),#3498DB(blue) - Shorthand: When each color channel repeats the same digit, you can shorten to 3 digits.
#FF0000→#F00 - Advantages: Compact and concise, standard in CSS/HTML, easy to copy and paste
- Use Cases: CSS stylesheets, HTML inline styles, design system documentation
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
An additive color model based on the three primary colors of light. Each color channel has a value from 0 to 255, and the final color is determined by mixing these three colors.
- Examples:
rgb(212, 175, 55)(gold),rgb(255, 255, 255)(white),rgb(0, 0, 0)(black) - How It Works: All values at 0 produce black; all values at 255 produce white
- Advantages: Intuitive color mixing concept, compatible with graphic tools like Photoshop, easy color calculations in programming
- Use Cases: Graphic software, JavaScript color manipulation, animation color transitions
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness)
A color representation closer to how humans perceive color. Defines colors using the angle on a color wheel (Hue), color vividness (Saturation), and brightness level (Lightness).
- Examples:
hsl(46, 67%, 52%)(gold),hsl(0, 100%, 50%)(pure red) - H (Hue): 0° = red, 60° = yellow, 120° = green, 180° = cyan, 240° = blue, 300° = magenta
- S (Saturation): 0% = grayscale, 100% = pure color
- L (Lightness): 0% = black, 50% = pure color, 100% = white
- Advantages: Easy to adjust brightness/saturation while keeping the hue, great for creating color palettes, intuitive understanding of color relationships
- Use Cases: CSS variable-based theme systems, hover effects (changing only brightness), consistent color palette creation
Color Selection Tips
- Brand Color Variations: Convert your base brand color to HSL, then adjust only the L (Lightness) value to easily create lighter or darker variations while maintaining the same hue.
- Finding Complementary Colors: Add 180 to the H (Hue) value in HSL to get the complementary color. Example: Blue (240°) complements yellow (60°).
- Finding Analogous Colors: Adjust the H value in 30° increments to create harmonious analogous color palettes.
- Accessibility Considerations: WCAG recommends a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between text and background. Check if there’s sufficient difference in Lightness (L) values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enter 3-digit HEX codes?
Yes, entering a 3-digit HEX code (e.g., F00) will automatically expand it to 6 digits (FF0000). The conversion happens when the input field loses focus. In CSS, #F00 and #FF0000 represent the same color (red).
How long is the color history saved?
The 12 most recent colors are saved in your browser’s local storage. The history persists even after closing the browser or restarting your computer. Click the “Clear” button to delete all saved history.
Is transparency (Alpha) value supported?
The current version supports only opaque colors (HEX, RGB, HSL). Formats including transparency such as RGBA (rgba(212, 175, 55, 0.5)), HSLA (hsla(46, 67%, 52%, 0.5)), and 8-digit HEX (#D4AF3780) are planned for future updates.
Are the color conversions accurate?
Yes, all conversions use standard color conversion algorithms for accurate calculations. However, since HSL saturation and lightness are displayed as percentages, rounding may cause minor differences of ±1 when converting back. This difference is imperceptible to the human eye.
Which color format should I use?
It depends on your use case. HEX is most widely used in CSS/HTML and is concise. RGB is useful when calculating colors in JavaScript or integrating with graphic tools. HSL is intuitive when adjusting brightness or saturation, or when creating harmonious color palettes.
Does it work on mobile devices?
Yes, all features work properly on mobile browsers. The color picker uses your device’s native color selector, and the copy function works correctly with mobile clipboards. The responsive design adjusts the layout to fit your screen size.