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Color Converter

Convert colors between HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK, and more formats instantly.

HEX
#3B82F6
RGB
rgb(59, 130, 246)
HSL
hsl(217, 91%, 60%)
CMYK
77%, 49%, 4%, 0%

CSS Variables

:root {
  --color-hex: #3B82F6;
  --color-rgb: 59, 130, 246;
  --color-hsl: 217, 91%, 60%;
}
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Frequently Asked Questions

What color formats are supported?
This tool supports four major color formats: HEX (hexadecimal color codes like #3B82F6), RGB (red, green, blue values from 0-255), HSL (hue, saturation, lightness as degrees and percentages), and CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key/black as percentages). All formats are converted simultaneously when you select or input a color.
What is the difference between RGB and HEX?
RGB and HEX represent the same color model (red, green, blue) but in different notations. RGB uses decimal values from 0-255 for each channel, like rgb(59, 130, 246). HEX uses hexadecimal notation, like #3B82F6, where each pair of characters represents one channel. They are interchangeable and both widely used in CSS.
When should I use HSL instead of HEX?
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) is more intuitive for creating color variations. To make a color lighter or darker, adjust the lightness. To make it more or less vivid, adjust saturation. To shift the color, change the hue. This makes HSL ideal for creating cohesive color palettes and design systems with programmatic color relationships.
What is CMYK used for?
CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the color model used in print production. Printers mix these four ink colors to produce the full color spectrum on paper. If you are designing for print materials like business cards, brochures, or packaging, you need CMYK values to ensure accurate color reproduction.
Can I use the browser color picker?
Yes! Click the color picker input to open your operating system native color picker. This lets you select any color visually, and the tool instantly converts it to all four formats. On some systems, the color picker also includes an eyedropper tool to sample colors from anywhere on your screen.
How do I copy CSS color variables?
The tool generates ready-to-use CSS custom properties (variables) for your selected color. Click the "Copy CSS" button to copy a complete :root block with --color-hex, --color-rgb, and --color-hsl variables that you can paste directly into your stylesheet.
Are the color conversions accurate?
Yes, all conversions use standard mathematical formulas as defined by the W3C and ICC color specifications. HEX to RGB is an exact conversion. RGB to HSL and back uses the standard algorithm with rounding to the nearest integer. Note that CMYK conversion from RGB is approximate since true CMYK profiles depend on the specific printer and paper combination.
Is this tool free to use?
Completely free with no limits. There is no registration, no watermarks, and no premium features locked behind a paywall. All processing happens in your browser, so the tool works offline after the page loads and your data stays private.

How to Use the Color Converter

Converting colors between different formats is an essential task for web designers, front-end developers, and graphic designers who work across digital and print media. Our free online color converter transforms any color between HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK formats instantly, with a visual color picker and ready-to-use CSS output.

Step 1: Select your color. Use the visual color picker to choose a color, type a HEX code directly into the input field, or click one of the preset color swatches for a quick start. The large color preview shows you exactly what the selected color looks like, so there is no guessing.

Step 2: View all formats simultaneously. The moment you select a color, the tool displays its equivalent in HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK. Each format card shows the value in the standard notation used in CSS and design software, with a copy button for instant clipboard access.

Step 3: Copy and use. Click the copy button on any format card to copy that specific value. For CSS workflows, use the CSS Variables section at the bottom which provides a complete :root block with custom properties for the selected color in HEX, RGB, and HSL formats.

Understanding Color Formats

Web and design work involves multiple color formats, each with specific strengths and use cases. HEX codes (like #3B82F6) are the most compact representation and the most commonly used format in CSS and HTML. They encode red, green, and blue channels as two-digit hexadecimal values, with 16.7 million possible colors.

RGB (Red, Green, Blue) uses decimal values from 0 to 255 for each channel. The rgb() function in CSS is useful when you need to manipulate individual color channels programmatically or when adding alpha transparency with rgba(). RGB is also the native color model for computer displays, which produce colors by combining red, green, and blue light at varying intensities.

HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) represents colors in a way that matches how humans think about color. Hue is a degree on the color wheel (0-360), saturation is the color intensity (0-100%), and lightness is how bright or dark the color is (0-100%). This format is invaluable for creating color variations: adjusting lightness creates tints and shades, while adjusting saturation creates more vivid or muted versions of the same hue.

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is the standard color model for commercial printing. While screens produce colors with light (additive color mixing), printers produce colors with ink (subtractive color mixing). Converting screen colors to CMYK is essential when preparing designs for print, though exact reproduction depends on the specific printing process, paper stock, and color profile used.

Color Converter Use Cases

CSS and web development. Different CSS properties and frameworks prefer different color formats. CSS custom properties often use HSL for easy theming, Tailwind CSS configuration uses HEX values, and JavaScript canvas operations use RGB values. Our converter makes switching between these formats effortless, and the CSS Variables output provides ready-to-paste code.

Design system creation. Building a design system requires defining colors in multiple formats for different contexts: HEX for design tools like Figma and Sketch, RGB for programmatic manipulation, HSL for generating consistent tints, shades, and complementary colors, and CMYK for brand guidelines that include print specifications.

Cross-platform design. Designers working on projects that span web, mobile, and print need color values in different formats for each platform. iOS uses RGB with values from 0.0 to 1.0, Android uses ARGB hex values, web uses CSS color functions, and print uses CMYK. Having all conversions in one place streamlines this multi-platform workflow.

Brand color documentation. Brand guidelines typically specify official colors in multiple formats. Our converter helps you derive all the formats you need from a single color input, ensuring consistency across your brand documentation, style guides, and asset libraries.

Accessibility testing. WCAG contrast ratio calculations work with RGB values. When you have a color specified in HEX or HSL, converting to RGB lets you calculate contrast ratios with background colors to verify that your text meets AA or AAA accessibility standards.

Why Use Our Color Converter?

All formats in one view. Enter a color once and see HEX, RGB, HSL, and CMYK simultaneously. There is no need to convert between formats one at a time or use separate tools for each conversion. Every format updates instantly when you change the input color.

Visual color picker included. Choose colors visually using the native browser color picker or by clicking preset swatches. The large color preview confirms your selection before you copy any values, eliminating the trial-and-error of working with raw color codes.

CSS-ready output. The CSS Variables section generates a complete :root declaration with custom properties for your selected color. Copy and paste it directly into your stylesheet. This is especially useful for setting up CSS theming and design token systems.

Fast and private. All conversions happen in your browser with zero server requests. The tool loads once and works entirely offline after that. There is no registration, no data collection, and no limit on how many colors you convert.

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