Convert color from HEX to CMYK

HEX to CMYK converter

Estimate CMYK ink percentages from a HEX color.

Example: #ff6b35

CMYK
See this color in all formats

About HEX to CMYK Converter

Screens mix red, green and blue light, while printers mix cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink. This page uses the standard formula to get from one to the other, which is good for a quick estimate, a spec sheet or a handoff note to a print shop.

About the formats. A HEX code writes the red, green and blue channels as two hexadecimal digits each, so #ff6b35 is red ff (255), green 6b (107) and blue 35 (53). The leading # is optional here, the short forms #f63 and #f63a work, and the 8-digit form #RRGGBBAA adds transparency. CMYK describes a color as the share of cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink (each 0% to 100%) used to print it. Values are read as percentages, with or without the % sign, and the CSS name device-cmyk() is understood too.

How exact is it? HEX holds a whole number from 0 to 255 per channel, so every code maps to exactly one color and nothing has to be rounded on the way in. The conversion uses the plain mathematical formula with no color profile, so treat the percentages as an estimate. Vivid screen colors fall outside what ink can print and will look duller on paper.

For example, #e63946 in HEX is cmyk(0%, 75.2%, 69.6%, 9.8%) in CMYK. For a real print job, do not send these numbers straight to the press. Real CMYK depends on the paper, the inks and a color profile such as FOGRA39 or SWOP, which a formula cannot know. Convert with the printer's profile in Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign.

How to convert HEX to CMYK

  1. Type or paste a HEX color code, such as #e63946, or choose a color with the picker.
  2. The CMYK value, cmyk(0%, 75.2%, 69.6%, 9.8%) for that example, appears straight away.
  3. Press Copy to put the CMYK value on your clipboard.
  4. Use the From and To menus at the top to switch to a different conversion, or open the all-formats page to see every format at once.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert HEX to CMYK?

Type or paste a HEX value such as #e63946 and the CMYK value, cmyk(0%, 75.2%, 69.6%, 9.8%), appears straight away. Use Copy to put it on your clipboard, or choose a color with the picker.

Will this match what my printer produces?

Not exactly. The formula assumes ideal inks, so vivid screen colors such as bright blues and greens print duller than they look. Ask your printer for their profile or a printed proof.

Why does black become 0%, 0%, 0%, 100%?

The formula moves all the darkness into the K (black) channel first. #000000 has no color of its own, so cyan, magenta and yellow are 0% and black is 100%.

Is converting HEX to CMYK exact?

HEX holds a whole number from 0 to 255 per channel, so every code maps to exactly one color and nothing has to be rounded on the way in. The conversion uses the plain mathematical formula with no color profile, so treat the percentages as an estimate. Vivid screen colors fall outside what ink can print and will look duller on paper.

Does HEX to CMYK keep transparency?

CMYK has no transparency, so any transparency in the HEX value is left out of the result. The preview still shows the color with its transparency.

Are my colors sent anywhere?

No. The conversion runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.