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Average Color Finder

Find the single average colour of an image.

Image Tools Reviews Free · no sign-up

Drop an image here, or click to choose one

JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF or SVG · processed on your device, never uploaded

Quick Tool Overview

The Average Color Finder computes the single colour that represents a whole image, and does it in linear light rather than averaging the stored values — the standard mistake that makes most averages come out noticeably too dark. Mean, median and dominant hue are all offered, because each answers a different question.

What it does
Finds one colour representing a whole image
You give it
Any image
You get back
A swatch with HEX, RGB and HSL
Best for
Placeholders, card backgrounds and theme colours
Image Tools Free, unlimited use No sign-up Runs in your browser

About the Average Color Finder

The average colour of an image is what a placeholder should be while the picture loads, what a card background should be behind it, and what a theme colour should be for a page built around it.

It is also easy to get wrong. Averaging the stored channel values ignores gamma, and the result comes out noticeably darker than the image looks — the standard mistake. This calculates in linear light and converts back, which gives the colour that actually matches. Three methods are offered: the corrected mean, the median (which ignores outliers), and the dominant hue at full saturation, which is what a theme colour usually wants to be.

Key features of the Average Color Finder

Gamma-correct averaging

Calculated in linear light and converted back, which is why the result actually matches the image rather than sitting a shade dark.

Three methods

Mean for a general average, median when a bright or dark patch is skewing it, dominant hue for an accent colour.

Download as a solid

Take a flat image of the colour, ready to use as a loading placeholder.

Explains the difference

The page says why the naive average is wrong, which is worth knowing beyond this tool.

Instant on any size

Sampling keeps a twenty-megapixel photograph as fast as a thumbnail.

How to use the Average Color Finder

  1. 1

    Load an image

    Any photo or graphic.

  2. 2

    Read the average

    Shown as a large swatch with HEX, RGB and HSL beside it.

  3. 3

    Compare the methods

    Mean, median and dominant hue each give a different answer for a reason.

  4. 4

    Copy or download

    Take the value, or a solid image of it for use as a placeholder.

Frequently asked questions

Because most tools average the stored values directly, which ignores gamma encoding. Averaging in linear light and converting back gives a noticeably lighter and more accurate result, which is what this does.

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