Delta E Calculator for Lab Dip & Bulk Shade
Use this free Delta E calculator to check a lab dip or bulk shade against the approved standard. Enter measured LAB values, choose CMC 2:1 or CIEDE2000, set your limit, and see at once whether the sample passes and which way the color moved.
Calculate Delta E for a lab dip or bulk shade
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.
| Formula | ΔE |
|---|---|
| CMC 2:1 | 0.99 |
| CIEDE2000 | 1.10 |
| CIE94 | 1.44 |
| CIE76 | 1.72 |
| 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 |
How to check a lab dip in five steps
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Choose the input type
Use LAB values from a spectrophotometer for fabric. Use HEX only to compare screen colors in design files.
-
Enter the standard and the sample
The standard is the approved target, such as the physical TCX swatch. The sample is the lab dip or bulk shade.
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Pick the formula and the limit
Use the formula and maximum Delta E named in your buyer specification. If none is named, agree them in writing first.
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Read the result and the direction
The result shows pass or fail and whether the sample is lighter, darker, redder, greener, yellower or bluer than the standard.
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Send a clear comment
Copy the direction words and the values into your comment to the dye house so the next lab dip moves the right way.
Which formula should you use?
Textile specifications usually name CMC l:c, most often 2:1. Other industries use CIEDE2000. What matters is that buyer and supplier name the same formula.
| Formula | Where it is used | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CMC 2:1 | Textile dyeing and lab dip approval (ISO 105-J03) | Not symmetric: the first color is the standard. The 2:1 ratio tolerates lightness differences more than chroma and hue. |
| CIEDE2000 | General color quality control (ISO/CIE 11664-6) | The newest formula, with corrections for blues and neutral colors. |
| CIE94 | Older graphic arts specifications | Uses the graphic arts constants. Not symmetric. |
| CIE76 | Simple reference | Straight distance in LAB space. It overstates differences in saturated colors. |
What Delta E is acceptable?
There is no single acceptable Delta E for a lab dip. Many teams write about 1.0 or lower for critical colors and allow a wider limit for less critical ones, and they agree the number and the formula in writing before dyeing.
| ΔE | What most people see |
|---|---|
| Below 1 | Not visible |
| 1 to 2 | Barely noticeable, only under close inspection |
| 3 and above | Clearly visible |
Read the full guide, what Delta E is acceptable for a lab dip, for example limits and a tolerance clause you can adapt.
Delta E calculator FAQ
What does this Delta E calculator compare?
It compares two colors, a standard and a sample, in CIELAB space and reports Delta E by four formulas. You can enter HEX codes for a screen check or L*, a* and b* values measured with a spectrophotometer.
Why do CMC and CIEDE2000 give different numbers?
They weight lightness, chroma and hue differently, so the same pair of colors gets a different number. Pick the formula your buyer names and use it every time. Do not compare a CMC result with a CIEDE2000 limit.
Which color is the standard?
The first one, the standard (approved target). CMC and CIE94 are not symmetric, so swapping the two colors can change the result. CIEDE2000 and CIE76 give the same number either way.
Can I use HEX values for lab dip approval?
No. HEX values describe screen colors, and a lab dip is a physical dyed sample. Measure the standard and the lab dip with a spectrophotometer, then use LAB mode. What Delta E is acceptable for a lab dip explains how to set the limit.
Does the calculator store or send my values?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and the values are not sent to a server.
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 QuotePANTONE® 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.