Hex Shorthand Expander
Expand #abc into #aabbcc and validate quick CSS color snippets.
Expand shorthand hex colors
CSS allows three-digit hex colors like #abc as shorthand for #aabbcc, which is convenient to write but harder to work with when you need the full form for a tool or a calculation. This expander converts shorthand to full six-digit hex and validates the input along the way.
Getting the canonical form matters when comparing colors, feeding them to a converter, or storing them consistently. Paste a shorthand hex to expand it, and get a quick check that the value is actually valid CSS color syntax.
Shorthand, expanded
Three-digit hex doubles each digit, so #abc becomes #aabbcc, which is the full form scripts usually need. The expansion runs in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What does the hex shorthand expander do?
It expands valid three-digit hex colors into six-digit CSS hex colors and previews them.
How does hex shorthand expand?
Each digit is doubled: #abc becomes #aabbcc and #f60 becomes #ff6600. The output is lowercased.
Can every six-digit hex be shortened?
Only when each pair is two identical digits, like #ffcc00 → #fc0. A color like #fa8072 has no three-digit form.
Does it support alpha shorthand like #abcd?
No. It accepts three- and six-digit codes only. Four-digit #rgba expands the same way to eight digits (#aabbccdd) if you need to do it by hand.
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