Color Tools
RGB vs HEX Colors – What's the Difference?
Both RGB and HEX describe the same colours. The difference is format — and knowing which one your tool or context expects saves time.
The same colour, two formats
RGB and HEX both work with the red-green-blue colour model. The same colour expressed in both formats:
#1c60f6=rgb(28, 96, 246)Brand blue#ef4444=rgb(239, 68, 68)Red#22c55e=rgb(34, 197, 94)Green#0f0f0f=rgb(15, 15, 15)Near blackWhen to use each
Convert between RGB and HEX instantly
Paste a hex code or drag the RGB sliders. Free, no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
Is RGB or HEX better for web development?
Both are equally valid in CSS. HEX is more compact and is the traditional choice for most developers. RGB (and its modern equivalent rgba()) has the advantage of supporting transparency via the alpha channel — rgba(28, 96, 246, 0.5) is a semi-transparent blue. If you need transparency, use rgba(). For solid colours, either format works and it is mostly a matter of preference.
Do RGB and HEX represent the same colours?
Yes — RGB and HEX are different notations for exactly the same colour model. #1c60f6 and rgb(28, 96, 246) are identical colours. Any colour expressible in RGB can be written as HEX and vice versa. The choice between them is purely about which format your tool or workflow requires.
Which format do design tools use?
Most design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) show HEX codes by default in their colour pickers, though they also display RGB values. Photoshop uses both. CSS accepts both. When handing off designs to developers, HEX is the most commonly used format in design specifications and style guides.
When should I use RGB instead of HEX in CSS?
Use RGB (specifically rgba()) when you need transparency. rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) is a 50% transparent black. HEX does not natively support transparency — though the 8-digit hex format (#RRGGBBAA) exists, it is less widely supported. You can also use RGB when you need to manipulate channel values programmatically in JavaScript or CSS custom properties.
How do I convert RGB to HEX?
Each RGB channel (0–255) is converted to a two-digit hexadecimal number and the three are concatenated with a # prefix. For example: R=28 → 1C, G=96 → 60, B=246 → F6, giving #1C60F6. You can use a converter tool to do this instantly without manual calculation.
What is the HSL color format and how does it compare?
HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) is a third CSS colour format that is more intuitive for humans. Hue is the colour angle (0–360°), saturation is how vivid the colour is (0–100%), and lightness controls light vs dark (0–100%). It is increasingly popular for CSS variables and theming because small adjustments (like darkening a colour) are easy and logical. HEX and RGB require converting to understand the relationship between similar colours.