Color Code Converter
Pick any color or type a value in HEX, RGB, HSL, or HSB — all formats update instantly. Get the complementary color and a ready-to-paste CSS snippet. Runs entirely in your browser, nothing sent to a server.
Pick a Color
or edit any field below
Complementary Color
#F6AF3C
180° opposite on the color wheel
CSS Snippet
color: #3B82F6;
background-color: #3B82F6;How to Use the Color Converter
There are three ways to set the active color. Use whichever fits your workflow — the rest of the tool updates automatically.
Three Ways to Input a Color
Color Picker
Click the colored square in the top-left to open your browser's native color picker. Drag the crosshair or enter hex values directly in the picker dialog.
Type a Value
Edit any of the four format fields directly — HEX, RGB, HSL, or HSB. Type a valid value and press Tab or click away; all other formats sync immediately.
Paste from Design Tools
Copy a color from Figma, Photoshop, or your browser DevTools and paste it into the matching field. The converter handles all standard CSS format strings.
Color Format Quick Reference
| Format | Example | Best Used In |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #3B82F6 | CSS, HTML attributes, design tokens |
| RGB | rgb(59, 130, 246) | CSS, canvas/WebGL, programmatic manipulation |
| HSL | hsl(217, 91%, 60%) | CSS variables, theming, dark/light modes |
| HSB / HSV | hsb(217, 76%, 96%) | Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, design tools |
Using the Complementary Color
The complementary color is calculated by rotating the hue 180° on the HSL color wheel while preserving the same saturation and lightness. Use it to:
- Create high-contrast button and link colors that pop against your brand color
- Build split-complementary or triadic palettes by rotating ±30° from the complement
- Identify which accent color will create the most visual tension (good for CTAs)
Accessibility Tip: Color Contrast
WCAG 2.1 AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18pt+ or 14pt bold) against its background. When using the lightness value from HSL, a rough guide is:
- Text on a light background — choose text with L ≤ 40%
- Text on a dark background — choose text with L ≥ 60%
- Always verify with a dedicated contrast checker for precise WCAG compliance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HEX, RGB, HSL, and HSB color formats?
HEX (#RRGGBB) is a six-digit hexadecimal representation of a color's red, green, and blue channels, widely used in web CSS. RGB (Red, Green, Blue) expresses the same three channels as integers 0–255. HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) describes color by its position on the color wheel (hue, 0–360°), intensity (saturation, 0–100%), and brightness from black to white (lightness, 0–100%). HSB/HSV (Hue, Saturation, Brightness/Value) is similar but uses Brightness instead of Lightness — a fully saturated HSB color at B=100% is vivid, while in HSL the equivalent is L=50%.
Which color format should I use in CSS?
All four formats are valid in modern CSS. HEX is the most common for static values because it's compact. RGB and HSL are preferred when you need to manipulate values programmatically — for example, using CSS custom properties to derive lighter or darker shades. HSL is especially designer-friendly because adjusting the L (lightness) value produces intuitive results. HSB is not natively supported in CSS but is used in design tools like Figma and Adobe Photoshop.
What is a complementary color?
A complementary color is the color directly opposite on the 12-step or 360° color wheel, i.e., 180° away in hue. Complementary pairs create maximum contrast and visual vibrancy when placed next to each other — for example, blue and orange, or red and green. Designers use complementary colors for call-to-action buttons, highlights, or anywhere contrast is needed.
Does this tool send my color data to a server?
No. All color conversion calculations happen entirely inside your browser in JavaScript. No color values, picker selections, or any other data is transmitted to any server. The tool works offline once the page is loaded.
How do I convert a color I see on a website to HEX or RGB?
Open your browser DevTools (F12 or right-click → Inspect), select the element with the color you want, and look at its CSS in the Styles panel. Click the colored swatch next to any color value to open the built-in picker, which shows HEX and RGB values. Alternatively, use a browser extension like ColorZilla to eyedropper any pixel on screen and get its HEX/RGB code instantly.
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