Color to Grayscale
Compare common grayscale formulas for any hex color.
Compare grayscale conversions
There is no single “correct” grayscale — the average, luminosity, and lightness methods each produce a different gray from the same color, and the right one depends on whether you care about perceived brightness or raw value. This tool shows the common formulas for any hex so you can pick.
Seeing the methods side by side is useful for accessible UI states, print prep, and understanding why an auto-converted image looks flat. Enter a color and compare the results to choose the conversion that fits your use.
Which gray to trust
The luminosity method weights green most heavily and usually matches how the eye perceives brightness, which makes it the safest default. Conversion runs in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What does the color to grayscale converter do?
It converts a hex color to grayscale using average, luminosity, and lightness formulas.
What are the three grayscale formulas?
Average: (R + G + B) ÷ 3. Luminosity: 0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B, weighted toward green because eyes are most sensitive to it. Lightness: the average of the highest and lowest channel.
Which formula should I use?
Luminosity is closest to how bright a color looks and matches most photo software's default conversion. Average and lightness can make pure blues and yellows look far too similar.
Why check designs in grayscale?
If two colors carrying different meanings collapse to nearly the same gray, users with low vision or color blindness may not tell them apart. It is a quick first check of your contrast hierarchy.
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