RGB to HEX Converter — Free, Instant

Understanding RGB and Hex: Base 10 vs Base 16

RGB and HEX are two ways to represent the exact same color—just different number bases. RGB uses base 10 (0–255 per channel), while HEX uses base 16. When you convert rgb(255, 87, 51), each number translates: 255 becomes FF, 87 becomes 57, 51 becomes 33, giving #FF5733.

How Three-Digit Hex Shorthand Works

HEX codes don't always need six digits. The shorthand #F53 works because each digit doubles: F→FF, 5→55, 3→33, expanding to #FF5533. This only works when channels repeat. It runs in reverse too: #AABBCC collapses to #ABC because every channel is a repeated pair. #AABBC1 cannot collapse, because C1 is not a repeated digit. This tool outputs full six-character uppercase hex (#FF5733, never #ff5733) for direct use in CSS and HTML.

Multiple Input Formats and Auto-Clamping

Enter RGB in many forms: standard rgb(255, 87, 51), shorthand 255, 87, 51, or other formats like hsl(), cmyk(), oklch(). Out-of-range values are automatically clamped to 0–255, so invalid input won't break conversion. The tool displays HSL, HSV, CMYK, and OKLCH alongside HEX, letting you see every major color format at once. Explore HEX to RGB for the reverse, or try RGB to OKLCH for modern perceptual colors.

Transparency and Print Limitations

Standard RGB-to-HEX conversion discards alpha. If you enter rgba(255, 87, 51, 0.5), opacity is dropped—this tool outputs only RGB HEX like #FF5733, not 8-digit codes with alpha like #FF573380. Additionally, HEX assumes sRGB and won't preserve color profiles or wide-gamut details. CMYK conversion shown is approximate and unsuitable for print—always verify with your print vendor before relying on it for production work.