Free Color Code Converter Online

Convert any color between HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV, and CMYK with live sliders and a native picker. Generate ready-to-paste CSS, find the nearest named color, and check WCAG contrast.

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HEX Color picker

Nearest named color

RGB

HSL

HSV

CMYK

CSS Snippets

Contrast Checker

Background color

Sample text

Guide

HEX, RGB, HSL, and the rest

Every color on screen can be written several ways. HEX (#RRGGBB) is a six-digit hexadecimal shorthand for red, green, and blue. RGB states those same three channels as numbers from 0 to 255. HSL (hue, saturation, lightness) and HSV describe color the way humans think about it, which makes them easier for picking shades. CMYK is for print. This tool converts between all of them live.

HEX to RGB, and why it is easy

A HEX code is just RGB in base 16. Each pair of hex digits is one channel: #FF8800 is FF (255) red, 88 (136) green, 00 (0) blue. Converting is a matter of reading each pair as a number from 0 to 255, which is exactly what the tool does, then it derives HSL and HSV from those values for you.

Why HSL is great for design

HSL separates the "what color" (hue) from "how vivid" (saturation) and "how light" (lightness). That makes it trivial to create a consistent palette: keep the hue fixed and vary lightness for tints and shades, or rotate the hue for related colors. Designers often reach for HSL when building themes because the relationships are intuitive.

WCAG contrast and accessibility

Color is not just aesthetics; text must be readable. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define a contrast ratio between text and background, and require at least 4.5:1 for normal text (3:1 for large text) to meet the AA standard. This converter includes a contrast checker so you can confirm a color pairing is legible before you ship it.

Last updated: July 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a HEX color code?

A HEX color code is a 6-digit hexadecimal value (e.g. #FF5733) representing red, green, and blue channels. Each pair of digits represents one channel from 00 (none) to FF (full intensity).

What is the difference between RGB and HSL?

RGB defines colors by red, green, and blue channel intensities. HSL defines colors by hue (the color wheel angle), saturation (intensity), and lightness. HSL is often more intuitive for designers adjusting brightness or saturation.

How do I convert HEX to RGB?

Split the HEX value into three pairs and convert each from hexadecimal to decimal. For example, #FF5733 → R=255, G=87, B=51. This tool does the conversion automatically.

What is CMYK and when is it used?

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a color model used in color printing. Unlike RGB which is additive (for screens), CMYK is subtractive (for physical ink mixing).

What is WCAG color contrast?

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) defines contrast ratio requirements for accessible text. AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text; AAA requires 7:1.