Color Converter (HEX → RGB / HSL)

How it is calculated

The tool accepts a 3-digit or 6-digit hex code, with or without a leading #, in upper or lower case. A 3-digit code is expanded by doubling each digit (F80 becomes FF8800). Each pair of digits is read as a base-16 number from 0 to 255, giving red, green and blue.

For HSL the channels are scaled to 0–1. Lightness is L = (max + min) / 2. If max equals min the colour is grey, with hue and saturation 0. Otherwise saturation is (max − min) / (max + min) for L up to 0.5 or (max − min) / (2 − max − min) above it, and hue is an angle in degrees from the dominant channel. Hue, saturation and lightness are rounded to whole numbers. Anything that is not 3 or 6 hex digits, including 8-digit codes with alpha, shows as invalid.

Common mistakes

• Typing an 8-digit hex with an alpha channel, such as #33669980. Only 3 or 6 digits are accepted, so remove the last two before converting.
• Entering a 4- or 5-digit code by mistake. A missing digit is not guessed; the tool reports invalid input.
• Reading #F80 as #0F8000. Short codes double each digit, so it means #FF8800.
• Expecting the HSL to hold decimals. Values are rounded, so converting back from the rounded HSL can land one step off the original hex.
• Pasting the colour name or an rgb() text instead of a hex code.