Color Code Converter
Convert colors between HEX, RGB, and HSL formats with live preview
Introduction
Converting between different color formats is a constant need in web development, design, and digital content creation. HEX codes are compact and widely used in CSS, RGB values are intuitive for understanding color mixing, and HSL provides the easiest way to adjust colors by separating hue, saturation, and lightness into independent properties. Our Color Code Converter handles all three formats seamlessly, providing instant conversions as you type with a live preview that shows exactly what your color looks like. Whether you're working with a specific HEX code from a brand guideline, adjusting RGB values for precise color matching, or manipulating HSL properties to create color variations, this tool eliminates the mental math and lookup tables. The live preview includes automatic text contrast (black or white text depending on the background color) so you can immediately judge readability and accessibility. Everything happens in your browser with no server requests, making it fast, private, and reliable for any color conversion workflow.
Who Should Use This Tool?
- Web developers writing CSS and need colors in different formats
- Graphic designers maintaining brand color consistency across tools
- UI/UX designers creating color palettes and design systems
- Frontend developers working with CSS preprocessors and frameworks
- Content creators matching colors between design apps and websites
- Marketing teams ensuring brand colors are used correctly
- Accessibility specialists checking color contrast ratios
- Design system maintainers documenting color tokens
- App developers implementing color pickers and themes
- Digital artists converting colors between different software
How This Tool Works
The tool provides three input modes—HEX, RGB, and HSL—and converts between them instantly as you type. When you enter a HEX code like #FF5733, it calculates the equivalent RGB values (255, 87, 51) and HSL values (hue 9°, saturation 100%, lightness 60%) using standard color space conversion algorithms. For HEX input, you can use the built-in color picker for visual selection or type codes directly, supporting both 6-digit (#RRGGBB) and 3-digit shorthand (#RGB) formats. RGB mode accepts three numbers from 0-255 for red, green, and blue channels, converting them to HEX and HSL. HSL mode takes hue as degrees (0-360), saturation as percentage (0-100%), and lightness as percentage (0-100%), making it easy to adjust specific color properties without recalculating the other formats. The live preview box displays your color with automatically selected text color (black or white, whichever provides better contrast) to demonstrate readability. Copy buttons next to each format let you grab the converted values instantly. The Random Color button generates a random color across all formats for inspiration or testing. All conversions use mathematically accurate formulas with proper rounding, though converting back and forth multiple times may introduce tiny differences due to integer rounding in RGB and HSL formats.
Try Color Code Converter Now
Use the interactive tool below to get instant results
#3B82F6
RGB(59, 130, 246)
HSL(217°, 91%, 60%)
HEX
Format: #RRGGBB or #RGB (e.g., #FF5733 or #F53)
RGB
Values: 0-255 for each channel
HSL
Hue: 0-360°, Saturation & Lightness: 0-100%
Quick Reference
HEX
Hexadecimal color notation using 0-9 and A-F
#RRGGBB
Example: #FF5733
#RGB (shorthand)
Example: #F53
RGB
Red, Green, Blue channels (0-255 each)
rgb(R, G, B)
Example: rgb(255, 87, 51)
Used in CSS and most design tools
HSL
Hue, Saturation, Lightness
hsl(H, S%, L%)
Example: hsl(9, 100%, 60%)
H: 0-360°, S&L: 0-100%
Color Model Advantages
HEX
- Compact notation
- Web standard
- Easy to copy/paste
RGB
- Intuitive channels
- Direct color mixing
- Universal support
HSL
- Human-friendly
- Easy adjustments
- Better for themes
How to Use Color Code Converter
Pick Your Format
Click on HEX, RGB, or HSL depending on what format you have. HEX looks like #FF5733. RGB uses three numbers (0-255) for red, green, blue. HSL uses hue (0-360 degrees), saturation (0-100%), and lightness (0-100%). Use whichever format you are starting with.
Type Your Color
Enter your color value. HEX: type 6 digits like #RRGGBB or shorthand like #RGB. RGB: enter three numbers from 0-255. HSL: enter hue as degrees and saturation/lightness as percentages. For HEX, you can also use the color picker to visually select without typing.
See All Formats
All three formats update automatically as you type. The color preview box shows exactly what the color looks like with contrasting text (black or white, whichever is more readable). Helps you understand how the formats relate to each other.
Copy What You Need
Hit Copy next to whichever format you need for your CSS, design app, or docs. Ready to paste directly. Try Random Color to generate some inspiration or test different colors.
Use Cases for Color Code Converter
Writing CSS
Need a color in different CSS formats? Use HEX for compact notation, RGB when you need transparency (rgba), or HSL for easier color tweaks when building themes. Convert once, use everywhere.
Design System Colors
Keeping brand colors consistent across Figma, CSS, and image editors? Convert your brand colors between formats so they work in every tool. No more slightly-off colors because of format differences.
Building Color Palettes
Creating color schemes? HSL makes it easy—adjust hue to shift colors, saturation for vibrancy, lightness for tints and shades. Then convert to HEX or RGB to use in your project.
Checking Contrast
Need to see if text will be readable on a background color? The preview shows automatic black or white text so you can judge contrast. Helps catch accessibility issues before they become problems.
Matching Colors Across Tools
Design tool exports HEX, video editor uses RGB, CSS framework prefers HSL? Convert between them to make sure the color is exactly the same everywhere. No guessing, no eyeballing.
Key Features
Three Formats
Converts between HEX, RGB, and HSL
Live Preview
Shows the color with automatic text contrast
Instant Updates
All formats update as you type
Color Picker
Visual picker for choosing HEX colors
Copy Buttons
Copy any format with one click
Shorthand Support
Handles 3-digit and 6-digit HEX codes
Input Validation
Shows errors if your input is invalid
Random Generator
Generate random colors for inspiration
All at Once
See all three formats simultaneously
Works on Mobile
Responsive interface for phones and tablets
No Dependencies
Pure JavaScript, no external libraries
Contrast Demo
Demonstrates text contrast principles
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HEX, RGB, and HSL?
HEX uses six hexadecimal characters like #FF5733 (compact, common in web dev). RGB uses three numbers 0-255 for red, green, and blue intensity (intuitive for understanding how colors mix). HSL uses hue (0-360 degrees for color), saturation (0-100% for vibrancy), and lightness (0-100% for brightness)—the easiest for making color adjustments since each property does one clear thing.
Why should I use HSL instead of RGB or HEX?
HSL is way easier for adjusting colors. Want it lighter? Increase lightness. More vibrant? Increase saturation. Shift from red to orange? Adjust hue. With RGB or HEX, you would have to recalculate all three channels. HSL is perfect for creating color schemes and variations because it matches how people naturally think about color.
How does the 3-digit HEX shorthand work?
3-digit HEX like #F53 doubles each digit. So #F53 becomes #FF5533 where F becomes FF, 5 becomes 55, and 3 becomes 33. Only works when both digits of each channel would be the same anyway. Shorthand for common colors—#FFF is white (#FFFFFF), #000 is black (#000000), #F00 is red (#FF0000).
Are color conversions mathematically accurate?
Yep, conversions use standard color space formulas and are mathematically accurate. But due to rounding (RGB and HSL use whole numbers), converting back and forth multiple times might introduce tiny differences of plus or minus 1. These differences are so small you cannot see them with your eyes though.
Is my color data kept private?
Yep. Everything happens in your browser. Your color values never get sent to any server or stored anywhere.