Colour matching

Pantone Color Finder

Paste a HEX, RGB or HSL colour and see the closest Pantone-style references ranked by perceptual distance, so you can start a print conversation from the right neighbourhood.

Paste a hex code, an rgb() value or a CSS colour name.
Hex values shown here are approximate sRGB renderings of common PMS references, published for on-screen guidance. They are not colour-managed ink measurements. Always confirm against a physical guide before a print run. Pantone is a trademark of Pantone LLC, which is not affiliated with this site.

Matching runs in your browser — your colours are never uploaded.

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Perceptual ranking

Matches are ranked in CIE Lab space, not raw RGB, so the ordering matches how eyes actually judge colour.

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Delta E scoring

Every result shows its numeric distance and a plain-language verdict on how close it really is.

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Visual comparison

Your colour and each candidate sit side by side so you can judge the shift yourself.

How to use the Pantone colour finder

Start from a digital colour you already have and work outward to the nearest physical ink references.

  1. Enter your colourPaste a hex code, an RGB value or use the colour picker.
  2. Scan the ranked matchesThe ten closest references appear with swatches and Delta E scores.
  3. Verify before printingTake the shortlist to a physical Pantone guide under proper lighting before signing off.

About matching screen colours to spot inks

Digital colour is emitted light; printed colour is reflected pigment. A hex value describes exactly how much red, green and blue a display should emit, while a spot ink is a physical recipe mixed in a bucket. There is no exact translation between the two, only degrees of approximation, and the honest way to work is to narrow the field digitally and confirm the choice on paper.

Why Lab distance

RGB distance treats all channels equally, which does not match human vision. Lab space is designed so that equal numeric distances feel like equal colour differences.

Gamut limits

Bright oranges, deep royal blues and anything fluorescent live outside the sRGB gamut, so no screen colour will ever match them convincingly.

Lighting matters

The same ink shifts noticeably between daylight, tungsten and LED lighting, an effect called metamerism. Printers judge under standardised D50 light.

Coated vs uncoated

A reference ending in C is for coated stock and U for uncoated. Picking the wrong one is one of the most common print surprises.

Pantone colour finder FAQ

Questions about spot inks, Delta E and how far to trust a screen match.

How accurate are on-screen Pantone matches?

Screen values can only ever approximate a spot ink. Pantone inks are physical, mixed pigments viewed under controlled lighting, and many of them sit outside what an sRGB display can show at all. Use this tool to narrow the field, then confirm against a printed guide before committing to a print run.

What is Delta E?

Delta E measures the perceptual distance between two colours in Lab space. A value under 1 is essentially invisible to the eye, under 3 is a close match, under 6 is noticeable but related, and above 10 reads as a different colour.

Why do coated and uncoated versions of a Pantone look different?

The same ink absorbs differently depending on the paper. Coated stock keeps ink on the surface so it looks brighter and more saturated, while uncoated paper absorbs it and the result appears duller and lighter.

Can I convert Pantone to CMYK?

You can approximate it, but many spot colours simply cannot be reproduced in four-colour process, especially bright oranges, deep blues and any metallic or fluorescent ink. That is precisely why spot inks still exist.

Is this an official Pantone tool?

No. This is an independent reference that compares your colour against published approximate sRGB values for common PMS references. Pantone is a trademark of Pantone LLC and is not affiliated with this site.

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