deftools.io Design

Color Converter

Convert colors between HEX, RGB, HSL, OKLCH, and named CSS colors. Paste any format or use the color picker — get all formats and contrast preview instantly.

About this tool

A color on the web can be written in several formats, and this tool converts between all of them instantly. HEX (#4a7aef) packs the red, green, and blue channels into a short string — the most common form in CSS and design tools. RGB (rgb(74, 122, 239)) spells out the same channels as decimal numbers from 0–255. HSL (hsl(220, 84%, 61%)) describes color the way humans think about it — a hue around the wheel, saturation, and lightness — which makes it the go-to format for building palettes and creating tints and shades. The tool also converts to and from OKLCH, the newer perceptual space used by Tailwind v4; for a dedicated OKLCH picker with P3 gamut checks, see the OKLCH Color Converter & Picker.

Drag the native color picker or type into any field — every format updates live. The tool recognises all 148 named CSS colors (tomato, rebeccapurple, cornflowerblue), so you can paste a name and instantly see its hex and RGB equivalents. This is especially useful when inheriting a codebase that uses named colors and you need the actual values for a design system or gradient.

Below the format fields, the Contrast panel tests your color against a chosen background (white by default) for WCAG 2.1 compliance. It shows the exact contrast ratio plus AA / AAA / AA-large verdicts, with a live text-on-background preview and side-by-side rows for pure white and pure black — so you can immediately see which foreground color passes at each level.

Example: #4a7aef = rgb(74, 122, 239) = hsl(220, 84%, 61%). All three render the exact same blue on screen; the format is just a matter of where the color is being used.

FAQ

What is the difference between HEX, RGB, and HSL?

They all describe the same RGB color. HEX and RGB use the same red/green/blue values in different notations; HSL expresses the color as hue (0–360°), saturation, and lightness, which is more intuitive for creating tints and shades.

What do the AA and AAA contrast badges mean?

They reflect the WCAG 2.1 accessibility thresholds. AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt+ or 14pt bold). AAA is stricter: 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large. Click a row to copy the ratio value.

When should I use 3-digit vs 6-digit HEX?

A 3-digit hex like #4af is shorthand for #44aaff, where each channel has both digits identical. Use it when the color happens to fit; otherwise the 6-digit form gives you the full range of 16 million colors.

Can this converter handle alpha (transparency)?

This tool focuses on the four core formats. For colors with transparency use 8-digit hex (#rrggbbaa) or the rgba()/hsla() notation in your CSS — both are supported natively by modern browsers.

How many named CSS colors are there?

There are 148 named colors in the CSS Color Module Level 4 specification, from basic names like "red" to specific ones like "rebeccapurple". Type any valid CSS color name into the input box to see its hex and RGB values instantly.

I need a full WCAG contrast report with pass/fail badges and fix suggestions.

Use the dedicated <a href="/contrast-checker">Color Contrast Checker</a> — it reports exact ratios, AA/AAA/large-text pass/fail badges for each WCAG level, a live text-on-background preview, and automatically suggests the nearest compliant color when a pair fails. The contrast preview here gives you a quick ratio at a glance; the Contrast Checker gives you the full compliance report.

Related design tools

Copied!