Colour Code Converter
Pick a colour or type a HEX, RGB or HSL value; the other formats fill in on their own.
- HEX
- RGB
- HSL
- HSV
- CMYK
- Contrast on white
- Contrast on black
How it works
Whichever of the HEX, RGB or HSL fields you change, the others are computed from it; HSV and CMYK are display only. The CMYK value is a plain conversion and varies with the print profile. The contrast ratio follows the WCAG 2 formula; 4.5:1 or more is recommended for text.
Frequently asked questions
How is a HEX code converted to RGB?
The six digits are read in pairs and each pair is converted from base 16 to base 10: #a3421c gives 163, 66, 28.
Is a three-digit HEX code valid?
Yes, #abc is shorthand for #aabbcc; the tool accepts both.
What is the contrast ratio for?
It shows how well text stands out from its background. WCAG asks for at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
Will the CMYK value print exactly?
No. The conversion here is mathematical; the printed colour depends on the paper and the colour profile.