HEX to CMYK
Convert HEX colors to CMYK percentages for print.
Type a HEX value or pick a color – the result updates instantly.
Preview
HEX to CMYK Converter
Web colors are defined as HEX codes, but printers think in cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink. Paste a code such as #2E8B57 and this tool returns cmyk(67%, 0%, 37%, 45%), ready to type into a print layout, a business card order form, or a brand guideline.
The formula behind the result
HEX is first decoded into red, green, and blue (0–255). Each channel is scaled to 0–1, and then:
- K = 1 − max(R, G, B)
- C = (1 − R − K) / (1 − K)
- M = (1 − G − K) / (1 − K)
- Y = (1 − B − K) / (1 − K)
This "maximum black" approach puts as much of the darkness as possible into the K plate, which keeps the total ink coverage low.
Worked example: Sea Green
#2E8B57 decodes to R = 46, G = 139, B = 87. The brightest channel is green at 139/255 = 0.545, so K = 1 − 0.545 = 45.5%. Then C = (139 − 46) / 139 = 66.9%, M = 0%, and Y = (139 − 87) / 139 = 37.4%. Rounded, that is cmyk(67%, 0%, 37%, 45%).
| HEX | CMYK |
|---|---|
| #FFFFFF | 0%, 0%, 0%, 0% |
| #808080 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 50% |
| #FFD700 | 0%, 16%, 100%, 0% |
| #2E8B57 | 67%, 0%, 37%, 45% |
| #000000 | 0%, 0%, 0%, 100% |
Tips for print projects
- Neutral grays convert to K-only values, which print cleanly without color casts.
- Very saturated screen colors, like electric blues and neon greens, sit outside the CMYK gamut and will look duller on paper.
- Ask your print shop which profile they use (for example, a coated FOGRA or GRACoL profile) and check a proof before a large run.
To start from RGB numbers instead, use the RGB to CMYK converter. If you receive CMYK values from a printer and need a web code back, try CMYK to HEX.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert HEX to CMYK?
First decode the HEX code into RGB, then divide each channel by 255. Black is K = 1 − max(R, G, B), and each ink is C = (1 − R − K) / (1 − K), and likewise for M with G and Y with B. #2E8B57 gives roughly cmyk(67%, 0%, 37%, 45%).
Will the printed color match my screen exactly?
Not necessarily. This is the standard device-independent formula, not an ICC profile conversion. Real presses, papers, and inks have different gamuts, so use your printer's color profile for final proofs.
Why does pure black convert to 0, 0, 0, 100?
#000000 has no light at all, so K is 100% and the other inks are set to 0. Printers often use a rich black with added cyan, magenta, and yellow for deeper solids, but that is a prepress choice, not part of the math.
Can I get decimal CMYK percentages?
The main result is rounded to whole percentages, which is what most print software expects. The worked example on this page shows the unrounded values if you need more precision.