How to use the Color Converter
1. Enter a HEX color code (e.g. #3b82f6), or drag the sliders to pick a color.
2. Edit the RGB or HSL values directly — all formats update in sync.
3. Use the color picker (native browser) for visual selection.
4. Click any copy button to copy that format to your clipboard.
What is it?
Colors in digital design can be represented in several formats. HEX (#RRGGBB) is the most common for web, storing each channel as a 2-digit hexadecimal value. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) is the additive color model used by all screens, with each channel ranging from 0–255. HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) is more intuitive for humans — hue is the color wheel angle (0–360°), saturation controls vividness (0–100%), and lightness controls brightness (0–100%).
HSL is especially useful in CSS theming because you can easily create color variations by adjusting only the lightness value, keeping the same hue. This is why design systems like Tailwind CSS use HSL for their color palettes.
Example
#3b82f6
HEX: #3b82f6 RGB: rgb(59, 130, 246) HSL: hsl(217, 91%, 60%) CSS: color: #3b82f6;
This is Tailwind CSS blue-500. Enter any format — HEX, RGB or HSL — and all others update instantly.
Benefits
Convert between HEX, RGB, and HSL without formula lookup
Paste any color format and get all three representations simultaneously — no manual conversion arithmetic.
Match a design file color to the CSS format your code uses
Figma and Sketch output HEX; your CSS uses HSL or RGB — convert to whichever format your codebase requires.
Find the HSL equivalent of an RGB color for CSS animation
HSL is easier to animate — hue rotation, lightness transitions — convert your RGB design values to HSL before writing keyframes.
Share exact color values between design and development
A single converted set prevents rounding errors and mismatches that arise when each tool converts independently.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HEX and RGB?
They represent the same color model but in different notations. HEX uses base-16 (0-9 and A-F) in pairs for each channel. RGB uses decimal numbers 0-255. #FF0000 and rgb(255, 0, 0) are both pure red.
When should I use HSL over RGB?
HSL is more intuitive for creating color schemes. To make a color lighter, just increase the L value. To desaturate, decrease S. It's great for programmatic color manipulation in design systems.
What is an alpha channel?
Alpha represents opacity (0 = transparent, 1 = opaque). In CSS: rgba(59, 130, 246, 0.5) or hsla(217, 91%, 60%, 0.5). This tool focuses on opaque colors.
Why don't all HEX values convert perfectly back to the same number?
Rounding occurs when converting between color spaces. HSL uses floating-point math internally. Conversions may be off by ±1 in the last decimal place due to this rounding.