HEX to LAB Converter

About the HEX to LAB Converter

What is HEX to LAB conversion?

CIELAB — usually just LAB — is the color space science built for measuring how colors differ. L runs from black (0) to white (100), a runs green-to-red, and b runs blue-to-yellow. Because distances in LAB approximate perceived difference, it powers everything from Delta-E quality control in printing to Photoshop's Lab mode. This converter turns any HEX code into its exact LAB values, using the D50 white point that CSS's lab() function and the graphic-arts industry standardize on.

You also get RGB, HSL, LCH, OKLCH, HWB and CMYK for the same color, a live preview, and WCAG contrast scores. As with every color tool on this site, all math happens in your browser.

How to Use This Tool

1. Enter a HEX code. Type it, paste it, use the swatch picker, or grab a pixel with the eyedropper.
2. Read the LAB values. L, a and b appear at the top of the results in CSS lab() form.
3. Interpret the axes. Positive a leans red, negative green; positive b leans yellow, negative blue.
4. Copy any format. LCH (the same space in polar form) and OKLCH are listed right below for comparison.

Common Use Cases

• Delta-E calculations: Get the LAB coordinates you need to measure how far apart two colors are.
• Print & brand matching: LAB is the lingua franca between screen colors and physical color standards.
• Photoshop workflows: Move colors between web HEX and Lab mode without guessing.
• CSS lab(): The output is valid modern CSS for browsers from 2023 onward.
• Understanding a color: The a and b axes tell you instantly which way a neutral drifts.

Need the reverse? Use the LAB to HEX converter, prefer polar coordinates via HEX to LCH, or browse all our free color tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do L, a and b mean?

L is lightness from 0 (black) to 100 (white). The a axis runs from green (negative) to red (positive), and the b axis from blue (negative) to yellow (positive). A neutral gray sits at a=0, b=0.

Which white point does this use, D50 or D65?

D50, matching the CSS lab() specification, ICC print profiles and Photoshop. Libraries that assume D65 will produce slightly different a and b values for the same HEX code.

Why is LAB useful for comparing colors?

Distances in LAB roughly match how different two colors look, which is the basis of Delta-E measurements used in print quality control and brand-color tolerance checks. RGB distances have no such meaning.

Can LAB describe colors my screen cannot show?

Yes, LAB is device-independent and much larger than the sRGB gamut. Converting from HEX always stays in range, but if you push the sliders to extremes the result is clipped to the nearest displayable color.

Is this tool free and private?

Completely. The conversion runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript, nothing you enter is uploaded or logged, and the page keeps working offline once loaded.