Lab to LCH converter
Paste a Lab value, get LCH instantly. Any other format works too.
Lab to LCH examples
About Lab and LCH
CIE Lab describes lightness L and two color axes, a (green to red) and b (blue to yellow). It is device independent and is used for color differences like ΔE.
CIE LCH is Lab in polar form: lightness, chroma and hue. It is easier to reason about than Lab and is supported in CSS as lch().
How the conversion works
We read the Lab value, convert it to CIE XYZ with the matrices from the CSS Color 4 specification and then into LCH. Values outside the target gamut are mapped by the CSS Color 4 algorithm, which keeps lightness and hue and reduces chroma.
Questions and answers
How do I convert Lab to LCH?
Paste or type a Lab value into the field above. PickShade converts it with the CSS Color 4 formulas as you type, and one click copies the LCH value.
Is the Lab to LCH conversion exact?
The math is exact and the result is rounded only for display, with enough digits to convert back to the same color. If the color does not fit the target gamut, PickShade warns you and shows the nearest color that fits.
Can I get other formats at the same time?
Yes. Every other format, including OKLCH, Display P3, Tailwind, SwiftUI, Flutter and Android, is listed below the result and copies with one click.
Is this converter free?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs entirely in your browser.