Convert HEX color codes to LCH and back — see lightness, chroma, and hue values instantly, with no signup required.
How It Works
A hex code is converted to LCH by first translating it to RGB, then to linear RGB, then to CIE XYZ, and finally to CIE Lab — from which LCH is calculated using the Lab a/b coordinates. LCH expresses the same Lab color space in a more intuitive form: L is lightness (0–100), C is chroma or color intensity, and H is hue expressed as a degree on a color wheel (0–360°), similar to how HSL expresses hue. Converting LCH back to hex reverses this chain and maps the result to the closest valid sRGB color, since LCH can describe colors outside what standard screens can display.
When to Use This
- Picking a hex color from a design tool and checking its LCH breakdown for use in modern CSS
lch()oroklch()-based color systems - Comparing perceived lightness or hue consistency across a palette, since LCH’s L value tracks human-perceived brightness more accurately than RGB or HSL
- Converting LCH values from a design spec or CSS variable back into a hex code for tools that don’t yet support LCH directly
FAQ
What is LCH color?
LCH is a color model based on CIE Lab that separates color into lightness (L), chroma (C), and hue (H), making it easier to adjust perceived brightness or saturation without accidentally shifting the hue — something RGB and hex values don’t allow directly.
Why convert a hex code to LCH instead of just using RGB or HSL?
LCH’s lightness value matches how humans actually perceive brightness, while RGB and HSL lightness/value figures don’t; this makes LCH more reliable for tasks like building accessible color scales or consistent-looking palettes.
Can every LCH value be converted back to a valid hex code?
Not always — LCH can represent colors outside the sRGB gamut that screens can’t display, so this tool shows the closest matching sRGB hex color and flags when a value falls outside that range.