How to Convert Between Colour Formats
The same colour has half a dozen written forms, and which one you need depends entirely on where it is going — a stylesheet, a print file, a design tool, a spreadsheet. Paste any of them here and you get all the others, along with the two things a plain converter leaves out: whether text in that colour will actually be readable, and a set of palettes built around it.
Paste any format
Hex, rgb(), hsl(), or a name like teal. Or use the picker and the sliders.
Copy what you need
Every format is listed and one click copies it, formatted ready to paste into code.
Check the contrast
Set a background colour and see immediately whether the pairing passes accessibility standards.
Which Format for Which Job
HEX is the web default — compact, unambiguous, and what most tools produce. RGB says the same thing in decimal, which matters mainly because rgba() adds transparency in a way hex handles less legibly.
HSL is the one worth learning. Hue, saturation and lightness map onto how people actually think about colour, which hex simply does not — nobody looks at #0B8F6B and knows what changing the first two digits will do. In HSL, a darker version means lowering the lightness, a muted version means lowering the saturation, and a complementary colour means adding 180 to the hue. Every palette on this page is generated that way.
CMYK is for print, and it works subtractively — ink absorbing light rather than a screen emitting it. The conversion here is the standard arithmetic one, which is close enough for reference. Genuine print work needs colour profiles, because the printable range is smaller than a screen's and bright saturated colours simply cannot be reproduced on paper.
Why the Contrast Ratio Matters
4.5:1 is the threshold that counts
It is the WCAG AA requirement for normal body text, and the level most accessibility audits and legal standards check against.
Large text gets a lower bar
Text at 18pt or bold 14pt and above only needs 3:1, because size compensates for some loss of contrast.
It is not the same as looking darker
The ratio uses gamma-corrected luminance weighted towards green, because human vision is. Two colours that look equally dark can score very differently.
Grey on white fails more often than you expect
Light grey body text is a common design choice and frequently lands below 4.5:1, making it hard to read on a phone in daylight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert HEX to RGB?
Paste the hex code and every other format appears immediately, including RGB. One click copies any of them.
What formats can I paste in?
Hex with or without the hash, three or six digits, rgb() and hsl() values, and common colour names like teal or coral.
What is HSL and why should I use it?
Hue, saturation and lightness. It matches how people think about colour, so building a palette from one starting colour is far easier than in hex.
Is the CMYK conversion accurate for print?
It is the standard arithmetic conversion and fine for reference. Real print work needs colour profiles, since the printable range is smaller than a screen's.
What is a good contrast ratio?
At least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text under WCAG AA. Seven and above meets the stricter AAA level.
Why does contrast use a weighted formula?
Because human vision is far more sensitive to green than blue, and the response is not linear. Averaging the channels gives the wrong answer.
Is my colour data uploaded anywhere?
No. Every conversion happens inside your browser.
What are colour harmonies?
Combinations built from fixed hue relationships - complementary is opposite on the wheel, triadic is three evenly spaced. They are a reliable starting point rather than a rule.
How are the shades generated?
By holding the hue and saturation constant and stepping the lightness, which produces a consistent scale of the same colour.
Can I use these palettes commercially?
Yes. Colours are not copyrightable and there is no restriction on anything generated here.
Why do some bright colours look wrong in CMYK?
Because they are outside the printable range. Vivid greens and blues on a screen simply cannot be reproduced with ink.
Is this colour converter really free?
Completely free, with no limits, no signup and no premium wall. Everything runs in your browser.
Last updated: July 21, 2026 · FlipMyFormat Colour Converter
Written and maintained by the FlipMyFormat team