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HEX to Pantone Converter

Convert HEX colors to their closest Pantone equivalents using Delta E color distance calculations. Find accurate print color matches for your digital designs in seconds.

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How It Works

  1. 1.
    Enter your HEX color

    Input any six-digit HEX code from your digital design files, brand guidelines, or style system.

  2. 2.
    Algorithm calculates Delta E distance

    Our tool compares your color against the entire Pantone library using CIE76 Delta E color difference formulas.

  3. 3.
    Review the top 5 matches

    See the closest Pantone colors ranked by accuracy, complete with color names, values, and distance scores to help you choose the best print match.

When to Use HEX to Pantone Conversion

Digital designers work in RGB and HEX color spaces optimized for screens, while commercial printing relies on Pantone's standardized ink systems. When your brand identity transitions from website to business cards, packaging, or corporate materials, this conversion becomes essential. Specifying Pantone colors ensures your printer mixes the exact ink formulation you intend, eliminating the guesswork and variability inherent in CMYK process printing.

Use this tool when preparing print-ready files for offset or spot-color printing, creating brand guidelines that span digital and physical touchpoints, or communicating color specifications to manufacturing partners. While no digital-to-print conversion achieves perfect accuracy due to fundamental differences in color reproduction methods, Delta E matching provides the most scientifically rigorous approach to finding your closest Pantone equivalent.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is HEX to Pantone conversion?
HEX to Pantone conversion provides close approximations, not exact matches. RGB and Pantone use fundamentally different color reproduction methods (light vs. ink), so some colors — particularly bright, saturated hues outside the printable gamut — cannot be perfectly replicated. Delta E scores below 2.0 indicate perceptually similar colors that most viewers cannot distinguish. Always request physical Pantone swatch books from your printer to verify final color appearance on your chosen substrate.
What is Delta E in color matching?
Delta E (ΔE) is a numeric score that measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E of 0 means identical colors, values between 1–2 are barely perceptible to most people, 2–10 show noticeable differences, and above 10 indicates distinct colors. The score is calculated using the CIE76 formula, which measures Euclidean distance between two colors in LAB color space. This tool uses Delta E to rank Pantone matches from most to least similar.
Can I use Pantone colors for web design?
No, Pantone colors cannot be used directly in web design because they are physical ink formulas, not digital color codes. You must convert Pantone values to HEX or RGB for screens, but the displayed color will vary across devices due to different calibrations and color profiles. For web design, specify colors in HEX or RGB and use this tool in reverse: find the Pantone equivalent when you need print materials. Maintain separate color specifications for screen and print in your brand guidelines.
What's the difference between Pantone Coated and Uncoated?
Pantone Coated (C) colors are formulated for glossy, coated paper stocks that seal the ink on the surface, resulting in brighter, more saturated appearance. Uncoated (U) colors are designed for matte, uncoated papers that absorb ink, producing softer, more muted tones. The same Pantone number (e.g., 185) will look noticeably different in Coated vs. Uncoated versions. Always specify C or U based on your final substrate, and request printed drawdowns on your actual paper stock before approving large print runs.