Why convert plain CSS to SCSS?

To start using SCSS features (variables, nesting, mixins) in an existing stylesheet without rewriting it. The output is a .scss file you can progressively enhance.

Does it detect patterns for refactoring?

Not automatically — it's a syntactic conversion. For refactoring suggestions, run the result through a SCSS linter with variable-extraction rules.

What's the difference between SCSS and Sass indented syntax?

SCSS uses curly braces and semicolons (CSS-like); Sass uses indentation (Python-like). This tool outputs SCSS; use CSS-to-SASS for the indented variant.

Can I use the output with Dart Sass?

Yes — SCSS output is compatible with Dart Sass, node-sass (deprecated), and LibSass. Dart Sass is the actively-maintained reference implementation.

CSS to SCSS | DevTools Surf

DevTools Surf

Example: CSS to SCSS

A worked example, rendered from real sample data. Sign in to run the tool on your own input.

Input

.card {
  display: flex;
  gap: 1rem;
  padding: 1.5rem;
  border-radius: 0.75rem;
  background: #fff;
}

.card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-2px);
}

Output

.card {
  display: flex;
  gap: 1rem;
  padding: 1.5rem;
  border-radius: 0.75rem;
  background: #fff;

  &:hover {
    transform: translateY(-2px);
  }
}

About CSS to SCSS

Convert CSS to SCSS preprocessor syntax. Part of the DevTools Surf developer suite. Browse more tools in the CSS collection.

Use Cases

Frontend teams migrating CSS to SCSS for better maintainability
Developers adding variables and mixins to existing CSS projects
Design system engineers converting CSS tokens to SCSS variables
Full-stack devs adopting SCSS in a Rails or Angular project

Tips

Check that color values are converted to SCSS $variables
Verify nested selectors use the SCSS & parent reference correctly
Review generated @mixin blocks for reusable pattern extraction

Fun Facts

SCSS (Sassy CSS) was introduced in Sass 3.0 (May 2010) as a CSS-superset syntax, replacing the original indented Sass syntax.
SCSS is the most popular CSS preprocessor, used by approximately 77% of developers who use preprocessors according to the State of CSS 2023 survey.
The SCSS syntax was specifically designed so that every valid CSS file is also a valid SCSS file, easing migration.

FAQ

Why convert plain CSS to SCSS?: To start using SCSS features (variables, nesting, mixins) in an existing stylesheet without rewriting it. The output is a .scss file you can progressively enhance.
Does it detect patterns for refactoring?: Not automatically — it's a syntactic conversion. For refactoring suggestions, run the result through a SCSS linter with variable-extraction rules.
What's the difference between SCSS and Sass indented syntax?: SCSS uses curly braces and semicolons (CSS-like); Sass uses indentation (Python-like). This tool outputs SCSS; use CSS-to-SASS for the indented variant.
Can I use the output with Dart Sass?: Yes — SCSS output is compatible with Dart Sass, node-sass (deprecated), and LibSass. Dart Sass is the actively-maintained reference implementation.

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