Color Format Converter
Paste any color in HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, or CMYK — get all formats instantly. Includes a WCAG contrast checker and named color lookup.
Compare your color against a background to check readability.
What is a Color Format Converter?
A color format converter is a tool that translates a color value from one coding system to another. Web developers and designers frequently work across multiple environments — CSS, Figma, Photoshop, Tailwind, and design tokens — each of which may use a different color representation. This tool allows you to type or paste a color in any format and instantly receive the equivalent values in all other formats without manual calculation.
HEX Color Codes
HEX (hexadecimal) is the most common color format in web development. A 6-digit HEX code like #3b82f6 represents red, green, and blue channels in base-16 notation. Short 3-digit codes (like #fff) are shorthand for 6-digit codes where each digit is repeated.
RGB — Red, Green, Blue
RGB expresses colors as three integers between 0 and 255. It maps directly to how screens display colors by mixing red, green, and blue light. This format is native to CSS and is used in design software like Figma and Photoshop.
HSL — Hue, Saturation, Lightness
HSL is a human-friendly color model. The hue is an angle on the color wheel (0–360°), saturation is how vivid the color is (0–100%), and lightness controls how dark or light it appears (0–100%). CSS supports HSL natively, making it excellent for creating consistent design systems where you adjust shades programmatically.
HSV — Hue, Saturation, Value
HSV (also called HSB — Hue, Saturation, Brightness) is similar to HSL but uses "value" instead of "lightness." It's the model used in most design application color pickers including Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
CMYK — Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key (Black)
CMYK is a subtractive color model used in professional printing. Unlike RGB (additive), CMYK starts with a white background and subtracts color by layering inks. It's essential when preparing assets for physical print production.
WCAG Contrast Ratio
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define minimum contrast ratios between foreground text and backgrounds. AA compliance requires a ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text, and AAA requires 7:1. Large text (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold) has relaxed requirements. Use the built-in checker to ensure your color pairings are accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments.