CSS Function
saturate()
The saturate() filter function adjusts the saturation of an element's rendering, making colors more vivid or muted.
Syntax
filter: saturate(amount)Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| amount | number | percentage | Yes | Saturation multiplier: 0 (grayscale), 1/100% (original), >1 (super-saturated) |
Examples
Grayscale equivalent
Completely desaturates to grayscale.
css
img {
filter: saturate(0);
}Vivid colors
Boosts color saturation by 50%.
css
.hero {
filter: saturate(1.5);
}Tailwind utility
Tailwind provides saturate-{value} utilities.
html
<img class="saturate-150 hover:saturate-200 transition" src="photo.jpg" />Browser Support
✓
Chrome
v18++
✓
Firefox
v35++
✓
Safari
v6++
✓
Edge
v12++
✓
Opera
v15++
Tailwind Equivalent
You can achieve similar results in Tailwind CSS using the following utility classes:
saturate-{value}: saturate-0, saturate-50, saturate-100, saturate-150, saturate-200Frequently Asked Questions
Is saturate(0) the same as grayscale(1)?▼
Visually similar but technically different algorithms. grayscale() is defined specifically for grayscale conversion. Both produce a desaturated result.
Can oversaturation cause clipping?▼
Yes. Values much greater than 1 can push color channels beyond their displayable range, causing clipping and banding artifacts.
Explore CSS Color Tools
Try our free tools to work with saturate() and other CSS color functions.
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