Hex to CMYK Converter
Convert hex color codes to CMYK values for print. Essential for designers preparing web colors for professional printing.
Synchronized color
#FF5733Parsed as RGB; malformed or out-of-range channels are rejected, never silently clamped.
Integer or percentage RGB, modern or legacy CSS, Hex with optional alpha, HSL, HSV, OKLCH, LAB, LCH, CMYK, or a CSS name.
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?color=FF5733One input, implementation-ready output
Color workspace
Hex
#RRGGBB
#FF5733CSS RGB
Modern space syntax
rgb(255 87 51)Legacy RGB
Comma syntax
rgb(255, 87, 51)RGB %
Percentage channels
rgb(100% 34.1% 20%)HSL
CSS hue, saturation, lightness
hsl(11 100% 60%)HSV / HSB
Design-tool model
hsv(11, 80%, 100%)OKLCH
Perceptual CSS color
oklch(68% 0.21 33.7)LAB
CSS Lab, D50
lab(61.03% 63.55 55.96)LCH
CSS LCH, D50
lch(61.03% 84.67 41.37)CMYK
Unprofiled approximation
cmyk(0%, 66%, 80%, 0%)How to Convert Hex to CMYK
Hex describes light emitted by a screen; CMYK describes ink absorbed on paper. The conversion inverts each channel and pulls the common amount out into black.
- Read the three hex pairs as decimal and divide each by 255 to get R', G', B' in 0-1.
- Black is whatever is missing from the brightest channel: K = 1 - max(R', G', B').
- Cyan, magenta, and yellow are each channel's remaining shortfall after black is removed: C = (1 - R' - K) / (1 - K), and the same for M with G' and Y with B'.
- When K = 1 the colour is pure black, so C, M, and Y are all 0 and the division is skipped.
- Multiply each result by 100 to express it as an ink percentage.
Example: convert #FF5733 to CMYK
FF = 255, 57 = 87, 33 = 51
R' = 1.000, G' = 0.341, B' = 0.200
K = 1 - 1.000 = 0.000 -> 0%
C = (1 - 1.000 - 0) / 1 = 0.000 -> 0%
M = (1 - 0.341 - 0) / 1 = 0.659 -> 66%
Y = (1 - 0.200 - 0) / 1 = 0.800 -> 80%
Result: cmyk(0%, 66%, 80%, 0%)
How to Use the Hex to CMYK Converter
Enter any hex color code and instantly see the CMYK equivalent. This is particularly useful when preparing digital designs for print production. Copy the CMYK values directly or view all available color formats.
Understanding CMYK for Print
CMYK is a subtractive color model used in color printing. Unlike screens that emit light (RGB), printed materials absorb light and reflect the remainder. Cyan, magenta, and yellow inks combined theoretically create black, but in practice produce a muddy brown, which is why a separate black (K) ink is used.
Common Use Cases
Graphic designers converting web colors to print specifications, marketing teams ensuring brand colors are consistent across digital and print materials, and print shop customers needing to provide accurate color values for business cards, brochures, and other printed materials.
Hex to CMYK Conversion Table
Hex, RGB, and CMYK values for the most commonly used colors. Click any hex code to load it into the converter above.
| Color | Name | Hex | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | #000000 | rgb(0, 0, 0) | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 100%) | |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 0%) | |
| Red | #FF0000 | rgb(255, 0, 0) | cmyk(0%, 100%, 100%, 0%) | |
| Lime | #00FF00 | rgb(0, 255, 0) | cmyk(100%, 0%, 100%, 0%) | |
| Blue | #0000FF | rgb(0, 0, 255) | cmyk(100%, 100%, 0%, 0%) | |
| Yellow | #FFFF00 | rgb(255, 255, 0) | cmyk(0%, 0%, 100%, 0%) | |
| Cyan | #00FFFF | rgb(0, 255, 255) | cmyk(100%, 0%, 0%, 0%) | |
| Magenta | #FF00FF | rgb(255, 0, 255) | cmyk(0%, 100%, 0%, 0%) | |
| Silver | #C0C0C0 | rgb(192, 192, 192) | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 25%) | |
| Gray | #808080 | rgb(128, 128, 128) | cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 50%) | |
| Maroon | #800000 | rgb(128, 0, 0) | cmyk(0%, 100%, 100%, 50%) | |
| Olive | #808000 | rgb(128, 128, 0) | cmyk(0%, 0%, 100%, 50%) | |
| Green | #008000 | rgb(0, 128, 0) | cmyk(100%, 0%, 100%, 50%) | |
| Purple | #800080 | rgb(128, 0, 128) | cmyk(0%, 100%, 0%, 50%) | |
| Teal | #008080 | rgb(0, 128, 128) | cmyk(100%, 0%, 0%, 50%) | |
| Navy | #000080 | rgb(0, 0, 128) | cmyk(100%, 100%, 0%, 50%) | |
| Orange | #FFA500 | rgb(255, 165, 0) | cmyk(0%, 35%, 100%, 0%) | |
| Pink | #FFC0CB | rgb(255, 192, 203) | cmyk(0%, 25%, 20%, 0%) | |
| Gold | #FFD700 | rgb(255, 215, 0) | cmyk(0%, 16%, 100%, 0%) | |
| Brown | #A52A2A | rgb(165, 42, 42) | cmyk(0%, 75%, 75%, 35%) | |
| Coral | #FF7F50 | rgb(255, 127, 80) | cmyk(0%, 50%, 69%, 0%) | |
| Indigo | #4B0082 | rgb(75, 0, 130) | cmyk(42%, 100%, 0%, 49%) | |
| Violet | #EE82EE | rgb(238, 130, 238) | cmyk(0%, 45%, 0%, 7%) | |
| Salmon | #FA8072 | rgb(250, 128, 114) | cmyk(0%, 49%, 54%, 2%) |
Need a value that is not listed? Browse the full color library — every hex code has a page with its RGB, HSL, CMYK and OKLCH values, contrast ratios, tints, shades and matching palette colors.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hex to CMYK Converter
Screens use RGB (light emission) while printers use CMYK (ink absorption). The CMYK color gamut is smaller than RGB, so some bright screen colors cannot be exactly reproduced in print.
CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). These are the four inks used in full-color printing. The "Key" plate provides detail and depth.
This provides a mathematical conversion useful for approximations. For professional printing, consider your specific printer's color profile (ICC profile) for the most accurate results.
The "K" stands for "Key" because the black printing plate was traditionally the key plate that aligned all other colors. Using "K" also avoids confusion with "B" for blue in RGB.
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