HEX to Pantone
Paste a HEX or RGB color to see the five closest Pantone-style solid coated colors side by side with your own. Each match shows its Delta E 2000 distance, a quality rating and whether it is lighter, darker, more or less saturated than your color.
Last updated:
Accepts #RGB, #RRGGBB, rgb(), hsl() or three numbers
How to use the HEX to Pantone
- Enter your color as a HEX code like #1E88E5, an rgb() value or three numbers such as 30, 136, 229.
- Choose how many matches you want (3, 5 or 10). Delta E 2000 ranking is recommended.
- Compare the split swatches. The left half is your color, the right half the Pantone-style match.
- Read the Delta E. Under 2 is a very close match; over 5 means the colors look different.
- Copy or export. Copy a match HEX or the whole ranked list with Copy results, then confirm the final choice in a printed Pantone guide.
How HEX to Pantone matching works
- HEX to RGB: #1E88E5 splits into R = 30, G = 136, B = 229.
- RGB to linear light: each channel is divided by 255 and the sRGB gamma curve is removed.
- Linear RGB to XYZ to CIELAB: the color is converted to L* (lightness), a* (green-red) and b* (blue-yellow) using the D50 white point used in print.
- Compare: the CIEDE2000 difference is calculated against every Pantone-style color in the list and the smallest values win.
CIEDE2000 corrects the plain Euclidean distance ΔE76 = √(ΔL*² + Δa*² + Δb*²) with weighting functions for lightness (SL), chroma (SC) and hue (SH) and a rotation term RT for the blue region, so equal numbers look like equal differences.
Reading the match quality
| ΔE00 | Rating | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | Indistinguishable | Brand-critical work |
| 1-2 | Very close | Logos, packaging proofs |
| 2-3.5 | Close | Marketing materials, merchandise |
| 3.5-5 | Noticeable | Rough mood boards |
| > 5 | Different | Pick another match or a custom mix |
Tips for choosing a spot color
- Compare the top three matches: the closest number is not always the best looking match for your design.
- Very bright RGB colors (neon greens, electric blues) are often outside what ink can print, so expect a larger Delta E.
- Screens vary. Check the chosen code in a printed coated and uncoated guide under daylight before sending files to print.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a HEX color to Pantone?
There is no exact formula, because Pantone colors are physical inks. Instead the HEX color is converted to CIELAB and compared with the screen values of each Pantone-style solid coated color. The one with the smallest Delta E is the closest visual match.
What is Delta E 2000?
Delta E 2000 (CIEDE2000) is the color difference formula recommended by the CIE. It compares lightness, chroma and hue in CIELAB and weights them to match human perception, which makes it more reliable than the older Delta E 1976 straight-line distance, especially for blues and greys.
What Delta E is a good match?
Below 1 is usually invisible, 1-2 is noticeable only side by side, 2-3.5 is close enough for most branding work, and above 5 the colors look clearly different.
Why is my best match still far away?
Your color may sit between Pantone colors or be a very saturated screen color that ink cannot reproduce. Try the top 10, or pick a match that is slightly lighter or darker as the shift notes suggest.
What does C mean after a Pantone number?
C stands for coated paper. The same ink looks different on uncoated paper (U), which is duller and darker, so a coated match is not automatically right for uncoated stock.
Is this the same as the Pantone to HEX tool?
They are opposites. Pantone to HEX looks up the screen value of a Pantone code you already know. HEX to Pantone starts from your screen color and focuses on ranking the nearest matches with detailed distance and shift information.
Are these official Pantone values?
No. They are commonly published sRGB approximations for screen use. This tool is not affiliated with Pantone LLC. Always confirm with an official printed guide before approving print.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.