What is the difference between RGB and HEX color codes?

HEX and RGB represent the same color information but in different formats. HEX uses a 6-character string (0-9, A-F) prefixed with #. RGB uses three decimal numbers (0-255) for red, green, and blue. Both are widely supported in CSS and design tools.

HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, Lightness. Hue is a degree on the color wheel (0-360). Saturation is the intensity of the color (0-100%). Lightness is how light or dark the color is (0-100%). HSL is often more intuitive than RGB for creating color variations.

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Color Picker & HEX Converter

Q: How do I convert HEX to RGB?

To convert HEX to RGB: split the 6-character hex code into three pairs (RR, GG, BB), then convert each pair from hexadecimal to decimal. Example: #FF5733 → R=255, G=87, B=51. Our color picker does this conversion automatically.

Pick any color and instantly convert between HEX, RGB, HSL, and RGBA formats. Generate shades, tints, and complementary color palettes. Includes contrast checker. Free, no signup.

Pick & Convert Colors

HEX

RGB

HSL

RGBA (50% opacity)

Opacity / Alpha

0% (transparent)100%100% (opaque)

Shades & Tints — click any to select:

Color palettes:

Contrast ratio (WCAG accessibility):

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vs White
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vs Black
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WCAG AA requires ≥4.5:1 for normal text, ≥3:1 for large text. AAA requires ≥7:1.

Named CSS colors — click to pick:

Understanding Color Formats

Different color formats serve different purposes. Knowing when to use each one saves time across design tools, CSS, and brand guidelines:

HEX (#RRGGBB): Most common in web design and CSS. Compact, easy to copy/paste. Used in brand guidelines. Range: #000000 (black) to #FFFFFF (white).
RGB (R, G, B): Three values 0–255 for red, green, blue. More intuitive for making adjustments — increase R to make a color redder. Required for some platforms and design tools.
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness): Most intuitive for creating color variations. Hue is 0–360° on the color wheel, Saturation is 0–100%, Lightness is 0–100%. Excellent for programmatically generating color scales.
RGBA: RGB with an alpha channel (0–1 or 0–100%) for transparency. Use in CSS when you need semi-transparent colors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert HEX to RGB?

Split the hex code into three pairs: #RRGGBB → RR, GG, BB. Convert each pair from hexadecimal (base 16) to decimal (base 10). Example: #FF5733 → FF=255, 57=87, 33=51 → RGB(255, 87, 51). Our tool does this automatically when you enter a HEX code.

What is contrast ratio and why does it matter?

Contrast ratio measures how distinguishable text is from its background, rated 1:1 (identical, unreadable) to 21:1 (black on white, maximum). WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines require at least 4.5:1 for normal text (AA standard) and 7:1 for enhanced accessibility (AAA standard). Poor contrast makes content unreadable for people with visual impairments.

What is a complementary color?

Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel — 180° apart in hue. Red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow are classic complementary pairs. They create maximum contrast and visual tension when used together. Split-complementary (using the two colors adjacent to the complement) offers similar energy with less tension.