HEX, RGB, and HSL: Which Color Format Should You Use?
2026-06-03 · 4 min read
HEX, RGB, and HSL describe the same colors in different ways. Here is when each one shines.
CSS lets you write the same color in several formats. They are interchangeable, but each is suited to a different job.
HEX
A HEX code like #6366f1 packs red, green, and blue into a compact six-digit hexadecimal string. It is the default in most design tools and the most common format in stylesheets.
RGB
RGB lists the three channels as numbers from 0 to 255, e.g. rgb(99, 102, 241). It maps directly to how screens emit light and is handy in canvas and image code where you manipulate channels.
HSL
HSL describes hue, saturation, and lightness — e.g. hsl(238, 84%, 67%). It is the most human-friendly format for adjusting a color: nudge the lightness for a hover state, or shift the hue for a palette.
To make a "darker" version of a brand color for buttons, convert it to HSL and lower the lightness. Doing the same in HEX or RGB is far less intuitive.
Convert between them
The Color Converter shows HEX, RGB, and HSL together with a live preview, so you can pick the right format for each situation and copy it in one click.