Hex to RGB Color Converter: Instantly Convert Hex Codes to RGB Values

How to Use Our Hex to RGB Color Converter

Using this tool is straightforward. There is only one field you need to use to get your conversion.

• Hex Color Code: Enter the hexadecimal color code you want to convert. A hex code is a six-character code preceded by a hash symbol (#). It can contain numbers (0-9) and letters (A-F). The tool accepts both the full six-character format (e.g., #1A2B3C) and the three-character shorthand format (e.g., #F0C).

Once you enter a valid hex code, the calculator will automatically display the corresponding RGB values.

Understanding Your Results

The calculator’s output will be in the rgb(R, G, B) format. This result represents the same color as your hex code, but it’s expressed as the intensity of red, green, and blue light required to create it on a screen. Each value ranges from 0 to 255.

• R (Red): This is the first number. It represents the intensity of the red component. A value of 0 means no red light is used, while a value of 255 means the maximum amount of red light is used.

• G (Green): This is the second number. It represents the intensity of the green component, following the same 0 (none) to 255 (maximum) scale.

• B (Blue): This is the third number. It represents the intensity of the blue component on the same 0 to 255 scale.

By mixing these three light colors at different intensities, a screen can produce millions of different colors. This is known as the additive color model. For example, rgb(255, 0, 0) is pure, bright red, while rgb(0, 0, 0) is black (the absence of light) and rgb(255, 255, 255) is white (the combination of all lights at full intensity).

Common Color Conversion Examples

To help you visualize the relationship, here is a table of common colors and their corresponding Hex and RGB values.

Color Name	Color Preview	Hex Code	RGB Value
Black		#000000	rgb(0, 0, 0)
White		#FFFFFF	rgb(255, 255, 255)
Red		#FF0000	rgb(255, 0, 0)
Green		#00FF00	rgb(0, 255, 0)
Blue		#0000FF	rgb(0, 0, 255)
Yellow		#FFFF00	rgb(255, 255, 0)
Cyan		#00FFFF	rgb(0, 255, 255)
Magenta		#FF00FF	rgb(255, 0, 255)
Silver		#C0C0C0	rgb(192, 192, 192)
Navy		#000080	rgb(0, 0, 128)

 

Why Convert from Hex to RGB?

While both Hex and RGB can define the same colors, they are used in different contexts. You might need to convert from Hex to RGB for several common reasons:

• CSS Opacity (Alpha Channel): To set a color’s transparency in CSS, you often use the rgba() format. The ‘a’ stands for ‘alpha’ and requires RGB values as its base. For example, you can’t set opacity on a hex code directly; you must first convert #FF0000 to rgb(255, 0, 0) and then add the alpha value, like rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5) for 50% transparency.

• Graphic Design Software: Programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma often use RGB sliders or input fields. If you have a specific brand color as a hex code, you’ll need to convert it to RGB to use it in these tools.

• JavaScript and Other Programming: When manipulating colors programmatically, such as in HTML5 Canvas animations or data visualizations, it’s often easier to work with the separate R, G, and B integer values than to parse a hex string.

• Video Editing and Animation: Digital video software almost exclusively uses the RGB model to define colors for graphics, text, and effects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Hex and RGB?

The main difference is their notation and primary use case. Both are based on the same additive (Red, Green, Blue) color model for digital displays.

• RGB uses a decimal system (base-10) with three numbers, each ranging from 0 to 255 (e.g., rgb(237, 106, 90)). It’s more intuitive for humans to read, as it separates the intensity of red, green, and blue.

• Hex (Hexadecimal) uses a base-16 system to represent the same information in a more compact format (e.g., #ED6A5A). It combines the three values into a single string. It’s widely used in web development (CSS and HTML) because it’s shorter and easier to copy and paste.

How do you manually convert a Hex code to RGB?

You can convert a hex code to RGB by separating the three pairs of characters and converting each pair from hexadecimal (base-16) to decimal (base-10).

A hex code #RRGGBB is made of three parts: RR (red), GG (green), and BB (blue). Each character is a hexadecimal digit: 0-9 and A (10), B (11), C (12), D (13), E (14), F (15).

To convert a two-digit hex number, you multiply the first digit by 16 and add the second digit. The formula is: $Decimal=(1stHexDigit\times 16)+2ndHexDigit$

Concrete Example: Convert #E74C3C

1. Separate the pairs:

   • Red: E7

   • Green: 4C

   • Blue: 3C

2. Convert each pair to decimal:

   • Red (E7): E is 14 in decimal. 7 is 7.

     • $(14\times 16)+7=224+7=231$

   • Green (4C): 4 is 4. C is 12.

     • $(4\times 16)+12=64+12=76$

   • Blue (3C): 3 is 3. C is 12.

     • $(3\times 16)+12=48+12=60$

3. Combine the results:

   • The RGB value is rgb(231, 76, 60).

What is RGBA and how is it different?

RGBA stands for Red, Green, Blue, Alpha. It’s an extension of the RGB color model. The first three values (R, G, B) are the same, defining the color. The fourth value, A (Alpha), defines the opacity or transparency of that color.

• The Alpha value is a number between 0.0 (fully transparent) and 1.0 (fully opaque).

• Example: rgba(255, 0, 0, 1.0) is a fully opaque red, while rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5) is the same red but at 50% transparency.

You cannot define transparency with a standard hex code, which is a primary reason for converting hex to RGB.

Are Hex color codes case-sensitive?

No, hex codes are not case-sensitive. The letters A through F can be written in uppercase or lowercase without changing the color value. For example, #ffffff, #FFFFFF, and #fFfFfF all represent the color white. However, a consistent convention (typically uppercase or lowercase) is recommended for code readability.

What is a 3-digit shorthand hex code?

A 3-digit hex code is a condensed version of a 6-digit code where the red, green, and blue pairs have identical digits. For example, the color #FF00CC can be written in shorthand as #F0C.

The browser interprets this by duplicating each character:

• F becomes FF

• 0 becomes 00

• C becomes CC

So, #F0C is the same as #FF00CC. Our converter correctly handles both 3-digit and 6-digit formats.

How do I find the Hex code for a color I see on my screen?

You can use a color picker tool. Most operating systems and browsers have them built-in or available as extensions:

• Browser Developer Tools: In Chrome or Firefox, right-click a page, select “Inspect,” and in the “Styles” panel, click on any color swatch. This will open a color picker that lets you select any color on the page and see its Hex, RGB, and HSL values.

• Browser Extensions: Extensions like “ColorZilla” or “Eye Dropper” add an eyedropper icon to your browser, allowing you to click anywhere on a webpage to grab a color’s code.

• Design Software: Programs like Photoshop, Figma, or GIMP have built-in eyedropper tools for this purpose.

Can you convert from RGB back to Hex?

Yes, the process is the reverse of the manual conversion described above. You take each of the three decimal values (from 0-255) and convert them into their two-digit hexadecimal equivalent. Then, you combine the three hex pairs to form the final hex code.

Example: Convert rgb(231, 76, 60)

• Red (231): $231÷16=14$ with a remainder of $7$. In hex, 14 is E and 7 is 7. So, the hex pair is E7.

• Green (76): $76÷16=4$ with a remainder of $12$. In hex, 4 is 4 and 12 is C. So, the hex pair is 4C.

• Blue (60): $60÷16=3$ with a remainder of $12$. In hex, 3 is 3 and 12 is C. So, the hex pair is 3C.

Combining them gives you #E74C3C.

What is the CMYK color model?

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black). It is a subtractive color model used for physical printing.

• Subtractive vs. Additive: Where RGB creates colors by adding light together on a black screen, CMYK works by subtracting (absorbing) light on white paper. You start with white paper (all colors) and add inks to absorb certain colors, leaving the desired color reflected.

• Use Case: CMYK is for print materials like magazines, brochures, and posters. RGB is for digital screens like computers, phones, and TVs.

What are “web-safe” colors?

Web-safe colors are a set of 216 colors that were guaranteed to display consistently across all major browsers and monitors, especially on older systems that could only display 256 colors. These colors are made from combinations of RGB values in increments of 51 (or 20%): 0, 51, 102, 153, 204, 255. In today’s world with modern screens capable of displaying millions of colors, the concept of web-safe colors is largely obsolete, but the term is still sometimes used.

Why does the same color look different on my phone and my laptop?

This happens due to differences in screen calibration, technology, and manufacturing. Factors like brightness, contrast, color temperature, and the type of panel (e.g., LCD vs. OLED) all affect how a color is rendered. Professional designers often calibrate their monitors to ensure color consistency across devices, but for the average user, some variation is expected.

Related Color Tools

After converting your Hex code to RGB, you might find these other tools helpful for your project:

• If you need to go in the opposite direction, use our RGB to Hex Color Converter.

• To find the perfect color visually, try our Online Color Picker.

• If you’re working with print and digital media, our CMYK to RGB Converter can help you maintain color consistency.