HSV to HSL

HSV to HSL color conversion

Use HSV to HSL when a design specification, stylesheet, or color editor needs a different representation of the same color. Start hexadecimal input with #, or use a lowercase rgb, rgba, hsl, hsla, or hsv function name. Select Submit, then check the target-format result before copying it.

How this conversion works

Use hue to locate a color sector. With saturation S and value V normalized to 0 through 1, chroma is V × S and the channel offset is V minus chroma. Reconstruct RGB before encoding the destination. For HSL output, normalize RGB, set lightness to (maximum + minimum) ÷ 2, and calculate saturation from the channel difference and lightness. Gray colors have no unique hue.

Worked color example

The sample H 210°, S 66.6667%, V 60% corresponds to hsl(210, 50%, 40%) for the color coordinates illustrated here. Small differences in the final digits can result from rounding. This example explains the mathematical representation; it does not establish which input syntax this tool accepts.

Understand the formats

HSV describes hue, saturation, and value. Value is based on the largest normalized RGB channel. HSV saturation and HSL saturation are calculated differently. HSL describes hue, saturation, and lightness. Lightness is halfway between the largest and smallest normalized RGB channels, rather than a direct measure of perceived brightness.

Transparency and rounding

Neither example has an explicit alpha channel. This conversion changes the way color coordinates are written. If you need transparency, use an alpha-capable representation and inspect its opacity value separately.

Frequently asked questions

Will the converted color look identical everywhere?

Equivalent coordinates describe the same color within the assumed color model. Displays, color profiles, surrounding colors, and backgrounds can affect appearance. Compare the result in the application where you will use it.

Can I interchange HSL lightness and HSV value?

No. They are different calculations. Recalculate the destination coordinates instead of moving the same percentages between HSL and HSV fields.

Related converters

Color converter tools | HSL to HSV | HSV to RGB | HSV to HEX