Pantone spot colors are defined as physical ink mixes for print, so converting one to RGB is always an approximation. This tool provides widely used screen approximations for popular Pantone colors so you can preview them in digital mockups.
Why Pantone-to-RGB is always approximate
Pantone’s Matching System (PMS) describes how printers mix physical inks — including fluorescent and metallic formulations that simply cannot exist on a backlit screen. The sRGB color space a monitor displays has a different gamut from Pantone’s printed ink gamut: some Pantone colors are more saturated than any combination of red, green, and blue phosphors can reproduce. This is not a limitation of this tool; it is a fundamental constraint of converting between physical media and screen.
How it works
The tool holds a local table mapping Pantone references (by number and name) to approximate sRGB values. As you type, it filters that table and renders each match with its hex code, RGB triplet, and a color swatch. Results are instantaneous because the data is bundled with the page — no network request is made.
The coated (C) variant of each color is used, as that is the most widely quoted form. Uncoated (U) versions look noticeably different in print because the ink soaks into the paper differently.
When to use these values
| Use case | Appropriate? |
|---|---|
| On-screen mockup or web prototype | Yes — a good reference |
| Presenting a brand palette in a slide deck | Yes |
| Choosing a color for web/app UI design | Yes, with care |
| Final production print job | No — specify PMS number to printer |
| Speccing a physical product (packaging, fabric) | No — proof against a printed Pantone guide |
Practical notes
- The Color of the Year series is included, making it easy to reference Pantone’s annual selections by name (for example, “Classic Blue” or “Very Peri”).
- Metallics and fluorescents in the Pantone library have no meaningful RGB equivalent — they are omitted from this table rather than approximated poorly.
- Different screens render the same hex value differently depending on calibration. For brand-critical decisions, view on a calibrated monitor with consistent ambient lighting.
Use these values for web previews, digital comps, and mockups only. For any printed deliverable, specify the Pantone number to your printer and confirm against a physical guide, since paper stock, coating, and lighting all shift the perceived color.