HEX to CMYK converter

How to convert HEX to CMYK

To convert HEX to CMYK, enter your HEX color in the box above and read the CMYK value next to it. For example, #F97316 is cmyk(0%, 54%, 91%, 2%). The result updates as you type, and every other format (HEX, RGB, HSL, CMYK and more) is shown at the same time.

What HEX and CMYK mean

A HEX color is a six-digit hexadecimal code with a # in front: two digits each for red, green and blue, from 00 to FF. In #3B82F6, red is 3B, green is 82 and blue is F6. A three-digit shorthand such as #38F repeats each digit, and eight digits add opacity at the end.

CMYK is the ink model used in printing: percentages of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Screens cannot show every CMYK color exactly and printers differ, so a conversion from RGB is an approximation to use as a starting point.

Convert HEX to CMYK by hand

Here is the calculation for #F97316, step by step:

1. Convert the HEX code to RGB first: #F97316 is rgb(249, 115, 22).
2. Divide each channel by 255 and take the largest: K = 1 − max = 2%.
3. Then C = (1 − R − K) ÷ (1 − K) = 0%, M = (1 − G − K) ÷ (1 − K) = 54% and Y = (1 − B − K) ÷ (1 − K) = 91%.
4. Result: cmyk(0%, 54%, 91%, 2%).

HEX to CMYK table of common colors

When to use HEX and when CMYK

HEX is the most compact way to write a color in CSS and design tools, so it is the code most people copy and share. CMYK matters when a color will be printed. Use it as a starting point and always check a physical proof, because inks and paper change the result.

Good to know

• Shorthand HEX codes such as #38F expand to #3388FF, and eight-digit codes carry an opacity value at the end.
• Values are rounded to whole numbers for display; the converter keeps more precision internally.
• The color picker lets you pick a color by eye when you do not have its code.
• Colors displayed on screen depend on your monitor's calibration, so the same code can look slightly different on different devices.