Convert YUV values to RGB (or RGB to YUV) instantly, with BT.601 and BT.709 standard support — no signup required.
How It Works
YUV to RGB conversion uses a fixed matrix formula that depends on two settings: the color standard (BT.601 or BT.709) and the range (full or limited/studio).
BT.601 (full range) — used for standard-definition video:
R = Y + 1.402 × (V − 128)
G = Y − 0.344 × (U − 128) − 0.714 × (V − 128)
B = Y + 1.772 × (U − 128)BT.709 (full range) — used for HD and modern video:
R = Y + 1.5748 × (V − 128)
G = Y − 0.1873 × (U − 128) − 0.4681 × (V − 128)
B = Y + 1.8556 × (U − 128)Limited (studio) range video encodes Y between 16–235 and U/V between 16–240, so the tool first rescales Y before applying the same matrix logic. Picking the wrong range is the most common cause of washed-out or overly dark converted colors — if your output looks off, try switching the range toggle first.
YUV vs RGB
YUV and RGB store the same color information in different ways. RGB describes a color as three light intensities — red, green, and blue — which is how screens display pixels. YUV separates brightness (Y, or luma) from color (U and V, the chroma channels), which is why it’s the standard format for video compression, broadcast, and codecs like H.264 and MPEG.
The practical difference: RGB is what you see on screen and what CSS/design tools use. YUV is what video files and cameras actually store, because the human eye is more sensitive to brightness than color — so compressing chroma data more aggressively than luma saves file size without a noticeable quality loss.
Use Cases
- Video/codec work (F, A): Verifying pixel values when debugging color shifts in encoded video, screen capture tools, or custom video players.
- Camera & broadcast pipelines (F, A): Converting raw sensor or broadcast YUV output to RGB for on-screen preview or web display.
- WordPress video embeds (S, F): If a self-hosted or custom video player shows incorrect colors, mismatched YUV standard/range assumptions between the encoder and player are a common cause — this tool helps isolate whether it’s a conversion issue.
FAQ
What’s the difference between YUV and RGB?
RGB stores color as red, green, and blue light values, while YUV separates brightness (Y) from color information (U and V). YUV is used in video and broadcast because it compresses more efficiently; RGB is used for screen display and design work.
How do you convert YUV to RGB?
YUV converts to RGB using a matrix formula based on the Y, U, and V values, adjusted by coefficients that depend on the color standard (BT.601 or BT.709) and range (full or limited). This tool applies that formula automatically — enter Y, U, V and the RGB values update instantly.
Why does video use YUV instead of RGB?
Video uses YUV because the human eye is far more sensitive to brightness (luma) than to color (chroma), so YUV allows chroma data to be compressed more heavily than luma without a visible quality loss — reducing file size significantly compared to storing full RGB per pixel.