CMYK to HEX
Convert CMYK print colors to HEX codes for the web.
Type a CMYK value or pick a color – the result updates instantly.
Preview
CMYK to HEX Converter
Printers, packaging suppliers, and older brand guides often specify colors as CMYK ink percentages. To use that color on a website or in an app, you need a HEX code. Enter cmyk(0%, 50%, 100%, 10%) – or just 0, 50, 100, 10 – and get #E67300, a warm orange.
From ink to light
CMYK is subtractive: each ink removes some light from white paper. Converting to screen colors reverses that. Each colored ink reduces one RGB channel, and black darkens all three:
- Red = 255 × (1 − C) × (1 − K)
- Green = 255 × (1 − M) × (1 − K)
- Blue = 255 × (1 − Y) × (1 − K)
Worked example
For cmyk(0%, 50%, 100%, 10%) the black factor is 1 − 0.10 = 0.9.
| Channel | Calculation | Value | HEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 255 × 1 × 0.9 | 229.5 → 230 | E6 |
| Green | 255 × 0.5 × 0.9 | 114.75 → 115 | 73 |
| Blue | 255 × 0 × 0.9 | 0 | 00 |
The result is #E67300. The "All formats" table under the converter also shows the RGB, HSL, and HSV forms and the closest CSS color name.
Things to know about CMYK values
- Rich blacks collapse:
cmyk(60%, 40%, 40%, 100%)andcmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 100%)print differently but both become#000000on screen. - Pure process inks convert to simple codes: 100% cyan is
#00FFFF, and 100% magenta plus 100% yellow is#FF0000. - Gray from black ink: 50% K alone gives
#808080. - Spot colors such as Pantone inks are not CMYK. If your guide lists both, use the CMYK build for this tool.
For individual channel numbers instead of a code, use the CMYK to RGB converter. To create print values from a web color, try HEX to CMYK.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert CMYK to HEX?
Convert each ink to an RGB channel with R = 255 × (1 − C) × (1 − K), G = 255 × (1 − M) × (1 − K), and B = 255 × (1 − Y) × (1 − K), round to whole numbers, and write each channel as two hex digits.
Why do several CMYK values give the same HEX code?
CMYK has four components and RGB only three, so different ink mixes can describe the same screen color. For example, any CMYK value with 100% black converts to #000000, whatever the other inks are.
How should I type the CMYK values?
Use cmyk(0%, 50%, 100%, 10%) or just 0, 50, 100, 10. Each value is a percentage from 0 to 100, and all four components are required.
Will the HEX code look exactly like the printed swatch?
It will be close but not identical. Printed color depends on paper, ink, and press settings, and this converter uses the simple uncalibrated formula rather than an ICC profile.