About
RGB: 3 channels (red, green, blue) 0-255 each = 16.7 million colors. Hex = same but base 16 with # prefix. CSS supports both. RGBA + HEX-A include alpha (transparency). Most color pickers convert automatically.
Formula
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the RGB Hex Converter?
It applies the standard formula. Accuracy is limited only by your input precision. For decisions with material consequences (taxes, medical, legal, structural), use the result as a starting point and verify with a qualified professional in the relevant field.
Is the RGB Hex Converter free to use?
Yes. 100% free, no signup, no payment, no API key. The site is funded by display ads around the tool but not inside the calculation flow.
Are my inputs saved anywhere?
No. All inputs stay in your browser tab. Closing the tab discards them. The site uses Google Analytics for traffic measurement (anonymized) but the analytics never see what you type into the form.
Can I use the RGB Hex Converter on my phone?
Yes. The tool is responsive and tested on iOS Safari, Android Chrome, and major desktop browsers. Touch targets meet Apple's 44pt and Google's 48dp minimum.
Does the RGB Hex Converter work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, it works without internet. The calculation runs in JavaScript on your device.
How do I report a bug or suggest improvement to the RGB Hex Converter?
Email hi@3tej.com with the URL of this page and a description of what you saw vs expected. We typically respond within 72 hours.
Can I share results from the RGB Hex Converter?
Take a screenshot or copy the output. The page doesn't generate shareable URLs for specific calculations - inputs stay in your browser only.
Why are the results different from another rgb hex tool?
Most likely: different formula assumptions, different default values, different rounding rules, or different applicable rates. Check the methodology if both tools document it. Both can be valid for different scenarios.
Why does the same hex look different on my phone vs laptop?
Different display gamuts (sRGB vs P3) and color calibration. Phones default to wider gamuts and warmer color balance. Laptops are usually closer to sRGB and cooler. For brand-consistent output, embed an ICC color profile in your images.
What's the contrast ratio I need?
For body text: 4.5:1 minimum (WCAG AA). For large text (18pt+ or 14pt bold): 3:1. For government, banking, healthcare: 7:1 (AAA). For decorative or brand-only elements: no minimum, but consider accessibility.
Is hex case-sensitive?
No. #FF6347 and #ff6347 are identical to the browser. Lowercase is more common in modern style guides because it's slightly more compressible.
Should I use HSL or RGB in CSS?
Use HSL when adjusting brightness/saturation in code (easier to read 'hsl(220, 80%, 60%)' than to compute the RGB equivalent). Use hex for static design tokens. Use rgb() with alpha for transparency.
What is the RGB equivalent of pure black?
#000000 in hex = rgb(0, 0, 0). Both channels at zero produce no light, which on emissive screens (OLED, CRT) means actually-off pixels. On LCDs the backlight bleeds through, so #000 still emits some light.
Can I convert between print (CMYK) and screen (RGB)?
Approximately. The two gamuts only partially overlap - vibrant screen colors like neon cyan or hot pink have no CMYK equivalent. Use rendering intents in Photoshop or Affinity to manage out-of-gamut colors.
Color spaces and notation
The same color can be written in several notations. Web standards accept all of them, but designers and developers use them differently depending on the task:
| Notation | Example for cornflower blue | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hex | #6495ED | Code, CSS, design tokens |
| RGB | rgb(100, 149, 237) | Manipulation by JavaScript / animation |
| HSL | hsl(219, 79%, 66%) | Adjusting brightness/saturation by hand |
| HSV / HSB | hsv(219, 58%, 93%) | Color pickers, image editors |
| LAB | lab(63.32 -1.55 -45.78) | Perceptually uniform manipulation |
| CMYK | cmyk(58%, 37%, 0%, 7%) |
Display color gamuts
Not every screen renders the same range of colors. sRGB is the universal web standard, but modern phones and laptops cover wider gamuts:
If you author in P3 or Adobe RGB and serve to an sRGB browser without a profile tag, the saturated colors clip and look duller. Modern browsers (Chrome 111+, Safari 13+) respect the @media (color-gamut: p3) CSS query so you can serve different palettes per display.
WCAG contrast accessibility
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines define how much luminance contrast text needs against its background. The ratio runs from 1:1 (same color) to 21:1 (black on white). Most countries require AA compliance for public sites:
| WCAG level | Normal text ratio | Large text (18pt+/14pt bold) ratio | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| AA | 4.5:1 or higher | 3:1 or higher | Minimum legal standard for most countries |
| AAA | 7:1 or higher | 4.5:1 or higher | Government, healthcare, banking sites |
| Fail | Below 4.5:1 | Below 3:1 | Will fail audits; users with low vision struggle |
Important caveats:
- Hue doesn't matter - the ratio is purely luminance. Pure yellow on pure black is 19.6:1 (excellent) even though it looks harsh.
- Decorative text is exempt - logos, brand wordmarks, and incidental graphics don't need to meet the ratio.
- WCAG 2 vs APCA - WCAG 2's algorithm penalises dark mode unfairly. The newer APCA (Advanced Perceptual Contrast Algorithm) handles dark mode better but is not yet mandated.
Color theory quick reference
- Complementary - opposite on the color wheel (red + green, blue + orange). High contrast, can feel harsh.
- Analogous - adjacent on the wheel (blue + teal + green). Harmonious, low contrast.
- Triadic - three colors equally spaced. Balanced and vibrant.
- Monochromatic - one hue, varied saturation/lightness. Calm, professional.
- Split-complementary - a base hue plus the two colors next to its opposite. Less tension than full complementary.
Common color pitfalls
- Pure black on pure white (#000 on #fff) is 21:1 - meets WCAG AAA but causes eye strain. Use #0f172a / #f8fafc or similar dark slate for body copy.
- Color-only signal - red/green for error/success leaves color-blind users in the dark. Always add an icon or text label.
- Dark grey on white (#999 on #fff) is 2.85:1 - fails AA. Looks fine on a designer's monitor; useless to users with mild vision loss.
- JPG color shift - JPG's YCbCr color space loses subtle gradients. Use PNG/WebP for designs with smooth color transitions.