Color Converter
Show the math
What Your Result Means
- HEX (#RRGGBB): A six-character code used in CSS and HTML. Each pair represents the red, green, and blue channels in base-16 (00–FF). This is the most common format for specifying colors on the web.
- RGB (0–255): Red, green, and blue intensity values as integers. Most image editors and CSS functions like
rgb()accept this format directly. - HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness): A more intuitive model — hue is the color angle on the wheel (0–360°), saturation is the intensity (0–100%), and lightness controls how bright or dark the shade is (0–100%). Useful for quickly creating tints and shades.
How This Calculator Works
You can edit any of the three color formats and the other two update instantly. HEX-to-RGB splits the six hex digits into three byte pairs and converts each from base-16 to decimal. RGB-to-HSL normalizes the channels to 0–1, finds min/max to determine lightness and saturation, then derives hue from the dominant channel. HSL-to-RGB reverses that process. The live preview swatch always reflects the current color.
Quick Questions
What is the difference between HEX and RGB?
They represent the same information in different formats. HEX uses base-16 notation (#FF5733), while RGB uses decimal values (255, 87, 51). Both define color as a mix of red, green, and blue channels.
When should I use HSL instead of RGB?
HSL is more intuitive for design work. To make a color lighter, increase L; to desaturate it, decrease S; to shift the hue, change H. In RGB you'd need to adjust all three channels simultaneously to achieve similar effects.
Does this support transparency (alpha)?
This converter handles opaque colors only (no alpha channel). For transparent colors, you would append a two-digit hex value (#RRGGBBAA) or use rgba()/hsla() in CSS.
Why does my HSL value look different from another tool?
Rounding differences are normal. HSL involves floating-point math, and small rounding at each step can shift H by ±1° or S/L by ±1%. The visual color is effectively identical.
Sources
- W3C CSS Color Module Level 4 (official color model definitions for the web)
- Wikipedia — HSL and HSV (conversion algorithms and color space explanation)
Method & review
Estimate only. Results reflect your inputs and standard formulas. Double-check important decisions independently.