Pantone to HEX converter for approximate PMS matches
This Pantone to HEX converter turns a Pantone Solid Coated code or name into an approximate HEX and RGB value. It also works backward: enter any HEX color and it finds the closest Pantone match, with a ΔE2000 score that tells you how near the two colors are. It is free and runs in your browser with no signup.
How to convert Pantone to HEX and HEX to Pantone
You can start from either side: a screen color or a Pantone code. Both routes end on the same result panel.
- Enter a HEX color. Use the color picker or type a value such as
#FF5733into the field under "Find the closest Pantone to a HEX color". Short codes like#F53also work. - Or search a Pantone code or name. Type
186 CorReflex Blueinto "Search a Pantone code or name" and press Enter to load the best match. - Read the result. The "Your color" swatch sits next to the "Pantone (approx.)" swatch, with the code, HEX, RGB, CMYK, color family and ΔE2000 listed below.
- Compare alternatives. Under "Next Closest Pantone Colors", select any of the nearby codes to switch the result to that color.
- Copy or share. Use Copy HEX, Copy code or Copy RGB, or choose Share link to copy a URL that restores the same lookup.
Pantone converter features you can use
- HEX to Pantone lookup. The tool ranks its Pantone Solid Coated list against your color and returns the nearest entry first.
- PMS to RGB and HEX. Search by code or name and get the sRGB approximation as a HEX code and an
rgb()value. - ΔE2000 match score. Every result carries a CIEDE2000 value and a plain-language label, from "Imperceptible" to "Clearly different".
- Six nearby colors. The alternatives list shows each candidate with its swatch, HEX and ΔE, so you can pick a better fit.
- Browse and filter. The "Browse Pantone Solid Coated Colors" grid starts with a short list; choose "Show all" for the full set, or filter by color family (red, pink, orange, yellow, green, teal, cyan, blue, purple, magenta, brown, gray, black).
- Quick actions. Jump to the contrast checker or the color harmony generator with the matched color already loaded.
In supported desktop browsers, an eyedropper button next to the picker lets you sample a color from anywhere on your screen.
What is a Pantone code and how are PMS names built?
A Pantone code identifies one ink color in the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Most codes are a number plus a letter suffix: "C" for coated paper, "U" for uncoated and "M" for matte. Some colors also carry names, such as Reflex Blue, so you can search by either.
The tool accepts the words "Pantone" or "PMS" in front of a code and ignores spacing and punctuation. That means PMS 186 C, 186c and 186 C all find the same entry.
Example: finding the closest Pantone for a HEX color
Take the default value #FF5733. A HEX code is three pairs of hexadecimal digits for red, green and blue, so FF, 57 and 33 become 255, 87 and 51, written as rgb(255, 87, 51). If you want the full explanation, see this MDN page on hex colors in CSS.
The Pantone converter converts that color to Lab, measures ΔE2000 against every Pantone Solid Coated entry and lists the nearest ones. Read the label first. If it says "Visible but close", the match works for a rough brief, and the alternatives below may fit better. If it says "Clearly different", treat the Pantone code as a starting point only.
What does the ΔE2000 score mean for a Pantone match?
ΔE2000 measures the perceived difference between two colors; a lower number means a closer match. The score uses the CIEDE2000 formula, which compares colors in the CIE Lab space. You can read more about the idea in this overview of color difference.
The tool groups scores into four bands and shows the label beside the number.
| ΔE2000 | Label in the tool | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 1 | Imperceptible | Most people cannot see a difference |
| 1 to 2 | Barely noticeable | Visible only on close inspection |
| 2 to 5 | Visible but close | Acceptable for many uses, check proofs |
| Above 5 | Clearly different | Look at the alternatives or adjust the color |
A high score is not an error. Pantone's Solid Coated range is finite, and some screen colors, such as very bright neons, sit outside what a close ink match can reproduce.
Why a Pantone to HEX value is only an approximation
A Pantone color is a physical ink formula, while a HEX code describes light on a screen. The two systems work in different ways, so any HEX shown for a Pantone code is an estimate. The Pantone Matching System is a licensed, proprietary spot-color standard, and 66Colorful is not affiliated with Pantone LLC.
Because the tool only reports what is in its list, a result never means "this is the exact ink". It means "this entry is the nearest one the list has to your color". Keep that difference in mind when you pass a code to a printer.
Spot color versus sRGB
A spot color is printed with a single premixed ink. HEX values belong to sRGB, the default web color space. Some inks, especially fluorescent and metallic ones, fall outside what sRGB can show, so the screen version looks duller than the real ink.
Why the CMYK value is not Pantone's own build
The CMYK line in the result uses a simple formula applied to the sRGB approximation. Pantone publishes its own process-ink builds, and those differ. As an illustration, #C8102E is rgb(200, 16, 46), and the simple formula gives roughly C0 M92 Y77 K22. For print values, use the HEX to CMYK converter and see how Pantone and CMYK differ.
Solid Coated only
The dataset covers Pantone Solid Coated colors, the codes ending in "C". Uncoated ("U") stocks absorb ink and print duller, so a coated approximation will not predict an uncoated result.
When should you use a HEX to Pantone lookup?
A HEX to Pantone lookup is useful whenever a screen color needs a print counterpart. It gives you a sensible starting point before you order a physical swatch.
- Brand guidelines. Add a nearby Pantone code beside the brand HEX so printers have a reference. Confirm it against a physical guide.
- Packaging and merchandise. Shortlist candidate inks for a logo before requesting proofs.
- Web design from print specs. Take a Pantone code from a brand book and get a HEX to use in CSS.
- Palette planning. Check whether a palette color has a close ink match or sits too far outside the range.
Pantone to HEX conversion tips and common mistakes
- Do not treat the HEX as official. Use it for screens and mockups, and use a printed Pantone guide for press-critical decisions.
- Check the ΔE, not just the code. Two colors with similar names can score very differently. A score above 5 deserves a second look at the nearby options.
- Remember the suffix. Searching
186and186 Cboth work, but the approximation always refers to the coated version. - Judge swatches on a calibrated screen. Brightness, night mode and display profile change how both swatches look.
- Test text on the result. A matched color used as a background may fail the WCAG 2.2 contrast minimum with your text. Run it through the contrast checker.
Which converter fits after a Pantone lookup?
If you only need to translate between screen formats, the HEX to RGB converter is faster and exact, because both are the same color model written two ways. Once you have a matched color, you can build a scheme around it with the color harmonies generator, or compare CMYK output with the RGB to CMYK converter.