Pantone Color Finder: Search PMS Solid Coated Colors

How to use the pantone color finder

1. Type a PMS number (like 29, 300 C or PMS 300) to list all matching solid coated colors by prefix.
2. Or type a hex code (like #008ed6, 008ed6 or #fc0) to find the nearest Pantone colors by visual similarity. A 6-digit string is always read as hex.
3. Choose how many results to display using the Max results dropdown (8, 16 or 32).
4. Review the table showing the PMS number, hex value, RGB triplet and, for hex searches, the CIE76 deltaE distance with a closeness label.
5. For hex searches, the summary shows the closest match with a plain-English closeness label. If nothing matches you get a clear message.

How the pantone color finder works

This tool uses two search modes depending on what you type. A string of 1 to 4 digits, optionally with a PMS or Pantone prefix and a C suffix, is a prefix search across all PMS solid coated numbers. Typing 29 returns 290, 291, 2905, 2915, 2925 and every other number starting with those digits.

Anything with a #, any 3 or 6 character string of hex digits, or anything containing the letters a to f is read as a hex color. That is why 123456 is treated as a hex code, not a PMS prefix. To search PMS numbers, use at most 4 digits.

For a hex color, the tool converts both your input and every PMS swatch from sRGB to CIELAB color space using the D65 illuminant. It then computes the CIE76 deltaE distance: deltaE = sqrt((L1 - L2)^2 + (a1 - a2)^2 + (b1 - b2)^2). For example, #008ed6 converts to approximately L*=56.3, a*=-5.5, b*=-45.6 in CIELAB. The tool compares that point against every PMS entry and sorts by the smallest distance, returning PMS 2925 as the nearest match.

Understanding deltaE closeness labels

The deltaE value tells you how far apart two colors are perceptually. A lower number means the colors look more similar to the human eye. This pantone color finder assigns plain labels to help you judge the result at a glance:

These thresholds follow common industry practice for evaluating color differences under controlled viewing conditions.

Screen approximations vs printed guides

The hex and RGB values shown here are screen approximations of PMS solid coated colors, not official Pantone values. Monitors vary widely in calibration, gamut and brightness, so the color you see on screen will differ from ink printed on paper. If you are doing professional print work, always verify your selection with a physical Pantone guide under standard lighting conditions.

This tool is designed to help you find pantone color candidates quickly during digital design, web development or early-stage branding work. Once you have narrowed down your choices, order a physical swatch book or consult your printer before committing to a final specification.

Pantone is a trademark of Pantone LLC and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone LLC. The values are screen approximations of the PMS solid coated library (907 colors), not official Pantone data.

Common PMS solid coated reference

Here are a few frequently used PMS solid coated numbers and their approximate screen values for quick reference:

You can type any of these numbers directly into the search field to verify them, or paste one of the hex codes to see which other PMS numbers fall nearby in color space.

Related color tools

If you need to convert between color spaces after finding your PMS match, several companion tools are available. Use hex to pantone for a dedicated single-value lookup, or pantone to hex when you already know the PMS number and want its screen approximation. For broader conversions, try rgb to pantone, cmyk to pantone, pantone to rgb or pantone to cmyk. You can also check readability with the color contrast checker.

Worked examples