Paste a hex color code and get its CIELAB values instantly. HEX and CIELAB describe the exact same color: base sixteen screen channels on one side, and the classic CIE 1976 L*a*b* lightness with two signed axes, a (green to red) and b (blue to yellow), on the other. See the live preview and the math worked out step by step.
Questions
- Are HEX and CIELAB the same color?
- Yes. HEX and CIELAB are two notations of one color; the converter changes the notation, not the color. Converting back returns the same value, apart from rounding in spaces that use decimals.
- How do I convert HEX to CIELAB by hand?
- Split the hex code into its red, green and blue pairs, read each pair as a number from 0 to 255, then apply the CIELAB formula shown in How HEX to CIELAB Works above. The worked example on this page follows every step with your own color.
- Where does the alpha channel go?
- A hex code with eight digits carries opacity in its last pair (FF is fully opaque). CIELAB has a matching form with an extra alpha value; both are listed in the Formats section of this page.
- Is the HEX to CIELAB converter free?
- Yes. It runs in your browser with no sign in and no limit; convert as many values as you like. The color itself is the link, so any conversion can be shared or bookmarked.
