Enter a HEX color below to get the exact CMYK value instantly, plus every other format, right in your browser.
When you need HEX to CMYK
The website already has a HEX code, and now the same brand has to appear on a flyer, a T-shirt order or a roll-up banner. Printers and print-on-demand forms often ask for CMYK, so the HEX has to be translated first. This page does both steps for you: the code is read as RGB, then recalculated into cyan, magenta, yellow and black percentages. The result gives the vendor a starting number, but ask which color profile and paper they use before final artwork.
Typical uses
- Briefing a vendor for merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs or banners using a color from your site stylesheet.
- Adding a CMYK line next to HEX in a brand sheet so print and web teams share one reference.
- Checking a landing page accent color before filling in a print-on-demand order form that asks for CMYK.
How to convert HEX to CMYK
Normalize R, G and B to 0-1. The black key is K = 1 − max(R′, G′, B′). The remaining channels are C = (1 − R′ − K) / (1 − K), M = (1 − G′ − K) / (1 − K) and Y = (1 − B′ − K) / (1 − K).
The reverse conversion is R = 255 × (1 − C) × (1 − K), and likewise G from M and B from Y. Note that this is the standard formula conversion: real print output depends on the ICC profile of the press, inks and paper, so treat the result as a starting point, not a color-managed match.
HEX values go through RGB first: split the code into three base-16 pairs, then apply the formulas.
Worked example
HEX to RGB
- R: D3₁₆ = 13 × 16 + 3 = 211
- G: 54₁₆ = 5 × 16 + 4 = 84
- B: 00₁₆ = 0 × 16 + 0 = 0
RGB to CMYK
- Normalize the channels: R′ = 211 ÷ 255 = 0.827, G′ = 84 ÷ 255 = 0.329, B′ = 0 ÷ 255 = 0
- K = 1 − max(R′, G′, B′) = 1 − 0.827 = 0.173 → 17%
- C = (1 − R′ − K) ÷ (1 − K) = (1 − 0.827 − 0.173) ÷ 0.827 = 0 → 0%
- M = (1 − G′ − K) ÷ (1 − K) = (1 − 0.329 − 0.173) ÷ 0.827 = 0.602 → 60%
- Y = (1 − B′ − K) ÷ (1 − K) = (1 − 0 − 0.173) ÷ 0.827 = 1 → 100%
#D35400 = cmyk(0%, 60%, 100%, 17%)
Tip: Thin small text and fine lines set in a mixed CMYK color can look fuzzy if the plates are slightly misaligned. For body text on printed material, ask your designer to use single-ink black instead of converting a dark brand HEX.
Common colors: HEX to CMYK
| Color | HEX | CMYK |
|---|---|---|
| Red | #FF0000 | cmyk(0%, 100%, 100%, 0%) |
| Orange | #FFA500 | cmyk(0%, 35%, 100%, 0%) |
| Yellow | #FFFF00 | cmyk(0%, 0%, 100%, 0%) |
| Lime | #00FF00 | cmyk(100%, 0%, 100%, 0%) |
| Green | #008000 | cmyk(100%, 0%, 100%, 50%) |
| Cyan | #00FFFF | cmyk(100%, 0%, 0%, 0%) |
| Teal | #008080 | cmyk(100%, 0%, 0%, 50%) |
| Blue | #0000FF | cmyk(100%, 100%, 0%, 0%) |
| Navy | #000080 | cmyk(100%, 100%, 0%, 50%) |
| Purple | #800080 | cmyk(0%, 100%, 0%, 50%) |
| Magenta | #FF00FF | cmyk(0%, 100%, 0%, 0%) |
| Pink | #FFC0CB | cmyk(0%, 25%, 20%, 0%) |
| Brown | #A52A2A | cmyk(0%, 75%, 75%, 35%) |
| Gray | #808080 | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 50%) |
| Black | #000000 | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 100%) |
| White | #FFFFFF | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 0%) |
Frequently asked questions
Should I send the printer the HEX, the CMYK or both?
Send both, plus the color name and where it is used. The CMYK gives the press operator a starting recipe, while the HEX records the on-screen intent so a proof can be compared with the website.
Does it matter that web HEX codes are sRGB?
Yes. HEX in CSS is interpreted as sRGB, the standard web color space. This page treats the code as plain RGB numbers, so wide-gamut colors from a photo editor may look different after being reduced to sRGB and then converted to CMYK.
Why does the printed color look different from my screen?
Screens mix light (additive RGB) while print mixes inks (subtractive CMYK), and the printable gamut is narrower. The exact result depends on the ICC profile, inks and paper; this converter uses the standard formula without color management, so treat it as an approximation.
What is the K channel?
K is the key (black) plate. Printing black with a dedicated ink instead of mixing 100% cyan, magenta and yellow gives deeper blacks, sharper text and saves ink.
Can I use CMYK in CSS?
No, the web works in RGB. Convert CMYK values to HEX or RGB before using them on a website; that is exactly what this tool does.
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