Color Picker & Converter

Q: What's the difference between HEX, RGB, and HSL?

They all encode the same colors. HEX is hex-encoded RGB, compact and widely used in CSS. RGB uses decimal 0 to 255 channel values. HSL describes color in hue, saturation, and lightness, which is more intuitive for manual tweaking. Modern CSS supports all three.

Q: What is the alpha channel?

Alpha controls transparency. 0 means fully transparent and 1 or 100 percent means fully opaque. RGBA, HSLA, and 8-digit HEX all support alpha, useful for overlays, glass effects, and subtle backgrounds.

Q: Should I use HSL instead of HEX in CSS?

HSL is more readable and easier to manipulate, such as same hue 10 percent darker, but HEX is shorter and more familiar. Pick whichever matches your team's conventions, as modern browsers handle both identically.

Pick, convert & explore colors — native picker, screen eyedropper, live RGB & HSL sliders, alpha, 6 output formats (HEX, HEX8, RGB, RGBA, HSL, HSLA), nearest color name, shades & tints, and a built-in WCAG contrast checker. 100% browser-based.

Aa —

#3B82F6

Nearest: Dodger Blue

Picker

HEX (3, 6 or 8 digit)

HEX #3B82F6

HEX8 #3B82F6FF

RGB rgb(59, 130, 246)

RGBA rgba(59, 130, 246, 1)

HSL hsl(217, 91%, 60%)

HSLA hsla(217, 91%, 60%, 1)

Shades & tints (click to load)

Quick presets

Current Color

#3B82F6 · rgb(59, 130, 246)

Adjust the picker, hex input, or sliders — everything stays in sync.

Quick Reference

HEX — #RRGGBB (6 digits) or #RRGGBBAA (8 digits with alpha)
RGB — each channel 0–255
HSL — hue 0–360°, saturation & lightness 0–100%
WCAG AA contrast: ≥ 4.5:1 (normal text), ≥ 3:1 (large text)
WCAG AAA contrast: ≥ 7:1 (normal text), ≥ 4.5:1 (large text)

How to Use the Color Picker & Converter

Pick a color with the picker, type a HEX code, drag the R/G/B/A or H/S/L sliders, or grab any pixel on screen with the Eyedropper.
The preview updates live, showing sample text and WCAG contrast ratings for white and black, plus the nearest named color.
All six formats (HEX, HEX8, RGB, RGBA, HSL, HSLA) refresh automatically — click Copy on any one.
Use the Shades & tints strip to explore lighter/darker variants, or tap a preset.

What Is HEX vs RGB vs HSL?

All three describe the same colors in different notations. HEX is compact and the most common form in CSS — #3B82F6 encodes red, green, and blue channels in two-digit hexadecimal. RGB uses decimal numbers from 0–255 per channel, which is easier to read and edit programmatically. HSL describes color as hue (the color), saturation (how vivid), and lightness (how bright) — far more intuitive when you want a color "a bit darker" or "more washed out." The A in RGBA / HSLA / HEX8 is the alpha (transparency) channel, from 0 (invisible) to 1 (fully opaque).

Common Uses for a Color Converter

🎨 Web designMatch brand colors across CSS, design tools, and docs.

💻 CSS developmentConvert a mockup's HEX to RGBA when you need transparency.

♿ Accessibility auditsCheck WCAG contrast ratios before you ship.

🖼️ Logo & brand workExtract precise color values from references.

🧪 Theme buildingGenerate lighter/darker HSL variants of a base color.

🔍 Code reviewsInstantly preview what a hex value really looks like.

Why Choose Our Color Converter?

✅ Privacy-first — 100% browser-based, nothing sent anywhere
✅ Six formats at once — HEX, HEX8, RGB, RGBA, HSL, HSLA in sync
✅ RGB & HSL sliders — edit in whichever model you think in
✅ Screen eyedropper — pick any pixel on your screen (supported browsers)
✅ Live WCAG contrast checker — AAA / AA / Fail on white and black
✅ Nearest color name — identify what a hex value is called
✅ Shades & tints — one-click lighter/darker variants
✅ Alpha channel — full transparency with checkered preview
✅ Dark mode & fullscreen, no signup, no tracking

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between HEX, RGB, and HSL?

They all encode the same colors. HEX is hex-encoded RGB (compact, used widely in CSS). RGB uses decimal 0–255 channel values. HSL describes color in hue, saturation, and lightness, which is more intuitive for manual tweaking. Modern CSS supports all three.

What is the eyedropper and which browsers support it?

The eyedropper lets you click any pixel anywhere on your screen to capture its exact color. It uses the browser's native EyeDropper API, available in current Chrome, Edge, and Opera. If your browser doesn't support it, the button is hidden — the picker, hex input, and sliders still work everywhere.

What is the alpha channel?

Alpha controls transparency — 0 means fully transparent, 1 (or 100%) means fully opaque. RGBA, HSLA, and 8-digit HEX (HEX8) all support alpha. Useful for overlays, glass effects, and subtle backgrounds.

What is contrast ratio and why does it matter?

Contrast ratio measures how distinguishable text is from its background. WCAG guidelines require at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (AA). Poor contrast makes content unreadable for users with low vision, in bright sunlight, or on low-quality screens.

Should I use HSL instead of HEX in CSS?

HSL is more readable and easier to manipulate (e.g. "same hue, 10% darker"), but HEX is shorter and more familiar. Pick whichever matches your team's conventions — modern browsers handle both identically.

Does the color converter work offline?

Yes. Once the page is loaded, all conversions run in your browser — no internet connection needed.