Free tools for garment production

HEX to Pantone TCX Converter & Lab Dip Delta E Calculator

Convert any HEX or RGB color to the nearest Pantone TCX code, ranked by Delta E, and copy a specification line straight into your tech pack. This free tool is built for garment production. It shows how close each TCX match really is, compares a lab dip with your approved standard, and explains what a dye house needs from you.

A HEX code only describes light on a screen. A dye house matches to a physical standard, so send the TCX code, a cotton swatch for critical colors and a written tolerance.

By SDF Clothing Updated Free, no signup

Convert HEX, RGB & CMYK to Pantone TCX

Type a HEX code, pick a color, or enter RGB or CMYK values. The five closest TCX colors appear straight away, each with a Delta E badge that shows how close the match is.

Your color

Type 3 or 6 hex digits, with or without the hash.

RGB (0 to 255)
CMYK (0 to 100 percent)

CMYK to screen color uses a simple formula. It is a rough starting point, not an ICC-profiled conversion.

Try an example

Closest Pantone TCX matches

Ranked by ΔE2000 against 2,800 reference values. Lower is closer.

  1. PANTONE 19-4052 TCX

    Classic Blue · #0F4C81

    Near-exact ΔE2000 0.0

  2. PANTONE 19-4049 TCX

    Snorkel Blue · #034F84

    Close ΔE2000 1.5

  3. PANTONE 19-4045 TCX

    Lapis Blue · #004B8D

    Close ΔE2000 1.6

  4. PANTONE 19-4048 TCX

    Baleine Blue · #155187

    Close ΔE2000 1.7

  5. PANTONE 19-4056 TCX

    Olympian Blue · #1A4C8B

    Visible difference ΔE2000 2.3

Near-exact means ΔE of 1 or less. Close is up to 2, Visible difference is up to 5, and anything above 5 is marked No close match. The reference values are approximate screen colors, so confirm every match against a physical Pantone swatch.

Tech pack specification line

Pick the component, tolerance and light sources. The line uses the match marked Use above.

All color values

  • HEX

    #0F4C81

    Screen color code

  • RGB

    15, 76, 129

    sRGB, 0 to 255

  • CMYK

    88%, 41%, 0%, 49%

    Simple formula, not ICC profiled

  • CIE LAB

    31.47, 2.35, -35.03

    D65 white point

  • CIE LCH

    31.47, 35.11, 273.8°

    Lightness, chroma, hue

  • HSL

    208°, 79%, 28%

    Hue, saturation, lightness

  • HSV

    208°, 88%, 51%

    Hue, saturation, value

  • CIE XYZ

    6.74, 6.85, 21.73

    D65, Y scaled to 100

How to Convert HEX to Pantone TCX for a Tech Pack

  1. Enter your color

    Type or paste a HEX code, pick the color with the color picker, or enter RGB or CMYK values. The tool updates as you type.

  2. Read the closest matches

    Check the ΔE badge on each match. Near-exact and Close are good starting points. Visible difference or No close match means you should compare the neighboring codes.

  3. Confirm with a physical swatch

    Hold the top match next to a Pantone cotton swatch or your fabric sample in daylight-balanced light. A screen cannot confirm a dye match.

  4. Build the specification line

    Choose the garment component, the tolerance and the light sources, then copy the specification line the tool writes for you.

  5. Paste it into your tech pack

    Add the line next to the component. Keep the HEX code as a reference only, and write the full TCX code with its suffix.

  6. Request a lab dip

    Send the tech pack to your dye house with the TCX code, the fabric and the tolerance. Approve every lab dip in writing before bulk dyeing.

Need the tech pack written for you? Our tech pack service prepares the full specification, and the tech pack color guide has copy-ready wording.

Can You Send a HEX Code to Your Clothing Manufacturer?

Short answer

Send a HEX code only as a starting reference. A dye house matches to a physical standard, so add the nearest Pantone TCX code with its TCX suffix and, for critical colors, a physical swatch. A HEX value describes light on one screen, and no two screens are calibrated alike.

Write the HEX code in your tech pack as reference only, and put the TCX code, the fabric and the tolerance beside it. Read the full guide, can you send a HEX code to a clothing manufacturer.

Lab Dip Delta E Calculator (CMC 2:1 & CIEDE2000)

Compare a lab dip with the approved standard. Use measured LAB values for fabric. The full Delta E calculator page has the same tool with a formula guide.

Input type

Standard (approved target)

Sample (lab dip or bulk)

HEX values are converted with the sRGB standard under D65. This compares screen colors, not fabric. Use measured LAB values for lab dip approval.

Tolerance

Result

✓ Within tolerance

ΔE CMC 2:1 is 0.99, which is inside your limit of 1.0.

Compared with the standard, the sample is lighter, more saturated, redder and bluer.

Delta E by formula
Formula ΔE
CMC 2:1 0.99
CIEDE2000 1.10
CIE94 1.44
CIE76 1.72
Sample minus standard
Difference Value
ΔL* (lightness) +1.36
Δa* (green to red) +0.52
Δb* (blue to yellow) -0.91
ΔC* (chroma) +0.95
ΔH* (hue) +0.45

What Delta E Is Acceptable for a Lab Dip?

Short answer

There is no single acceptable Delta E for a lab dip. The limit depends on the formula (CMC 2:1 or CIEDE2000), the color, the fabric and your buyer. Many teams write about 1.0 or lower for critical colors and allow more for less critical ones. Agree the number in writing before dyeing.

How most people see a color difference (Konica Minolta guide)
ΔEWhat most people see
Below 1 Not visible
1 to 2 Barely noticeable, only under close inspection
3 and above Clearly visible
Example limits teams write into specifications (illustrative, not a standard)
SituationExample limitReasoning
Brand-critical color, lab dip approval ΔE CMC 2:1 ≤ 0.6 to 1.0Differences below 1 are not visible to most people
Standard branded program ΔE CMC 2:1 ≤ 1.0 to 1.5Small differences show only in side-by-side comparison
Less critical color or basics ΔE CMC 2:1 ≤ 1.5 to 2.0Still inside the barely noticeable band
Fabric matched to a trim or another fiber Often wider than a single-fabric limitDifferent materials cannot be dyed identically
Above 3 Expect rejection unless agreedThe difference is clearly visible

The examples are illustrative, not a standard. See the acceptable Delta E guide for the reasoning and a tolerance clause you can adapt.

Pantone TCX vs PMS vs TPG: Which Goes on Your Tech Pack?

Short answer

Use TCX for dyed fabric, PMS Solid Coated or Uncoated for printed graphics, labels and packaging, and TPG or your supplier's chart for hard trims. A PMS number is not a TCX number.

Which Pantone reference to write for each garment component
ComponentReference to writeNote
Dyed fabric (shell, lining) TCXSend a physical swatch or fabric sample for critical colors and request a lab dip on the production fabric.
Rib, cuffs, drawstring, tape TCX with dye to match (DTM)Tell the supplier to match the approved main fabric and approve a lab dip for each material.
Thread Thread maker's shade cardAsk the thread supplier for the closest shade to the TCX code.
Buttons, zippers, hardware TPG or the supplier chartThese are hard surfaces. Ask which reference the supplier matches to and approve a physical sample.
Screen print or transfer ink PMS C or U, as the printer specifiesPrinting inks are mixed to print references. The printer confirms the book to use.
Hang tags and packaging PMS C or UThese are printed on paper, so a printing reference applies.

The TCX vs PMS vs TPG guide explains each system and what happened to TPX.

Why the Same Color Looks Different on Cotton and Polyester

TCX colors are defined on cotton. Polyester takes a different dye class and reflects light differently, so the same code lands a little differently on each fabric. Ask for a lab dip on every fabric in the garment and agree a tolerance for fabric-to-fabric matching. The full explanation is in why color looks different on cotton and polyester.

Color converter FAQ

What is Pantone TCX?

TCX is the cotton format of Pantone's Fashion, Home + Interiors system. Each color is a dyed cotton swatch with a code such as 19-4052 TCX, and Pantone offers its cotton swatch card in all 2,801 colors. Factories use it as the standard for dyed fabric.

How do I convert HEX to Pantone TCX?

Enter the HEX code in the converter above. It ranks the five closest TCX colors by ΔE2000. Check the top match against a physical swatch, then copy the code or the specification line into your tech pack.

Can I use a HEX code in a purchase order?

Only as a reference. A purchase order should name the TCX code, the fabric, the tolerance and the approval method. Read can you send a HEX code to a clothing manufacturer for what to send instead.

What Delta E is acceptable for a lab dip?

There is no single number. Many teams write about 1.0 or lower for critical colors and allow more for less critical ones, and they name the formula, such as CMC 2:1, in writing. See the acceptable Delta E guide.

Why does the same Pantone color look different on cotton and polyester?

Cotton and polyester take different dye classes, and their surfaces reflect light differently, so each fabric needs its own lab dip. Read why color looks different on cotton and polyester.

What is the difference between Pantone TCX, TPG and PMS?

TCX is for dyed fabric, PMS is for printing ink on paper, and TPG is a paper version of the TCX colors for hard surfaces. See the TCX vs PMS vs TPG guide.

Is TPX still used?

TPX was Pantone's earlier paper format. Pantone describes TPG as a lead- and chromium-free formulation of the TPX lacquer coatings, and TPG is the paper format it lists today. TCX is a separate format on cotton, so TPX was not replaced by TCX.

How accurate is this converter?

The TCX values are approximate sRGB references for 2,800 colors, compiled from public data. They are not Pantone's spectral data, so a screen can never confirm a dye match. Use the tool to find the code, then confirm it with a physical swatch. Pantone sells spectral data separately and offers licensed conversions in Pantone Connect.

How do I check metamerism?

Check the lab dip under at least two light sources, for example D65 and TL84, in a light booth. If two colors match under one source and differ under another, they are metameric. Record the result in your written approval.

Do I need a spectrophotometer to use the Delta E calculator?

No, but you need one for lab dip approval. HEX mode compares screen colors for design checks. For fabric, measure the standard and the sample with a spectrophotometer and enter the LAB values.

How many lab dip rounds should I expect?

Two to three rounds is a realistic range for most custom colors. Lab Dip Explained shows how the rounds work and how to reduce them.

Can I convert RAL or NCS to Pantone TCX here?

No. RAL and NCS are licensed color systems, and their values cannot be derived by a formula. Ask your supplier for the LAB values of the RAL or NCS reference, or send a physical sample, then find the nearest TCX color.

Sources and further reading

Need a lab dip or bulk dyeing from Bangladesh?

Send your TCX code, fabric and target tolerance with your tech pack. We will advise on achievable color tolerances for your production run.

Request a Lab Dip Quote

PANTONE® and TCX are trademarks of Pantone LLC. SDF Clothing is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone. The color values on this site are approximations for reference and are not Pantone data.