Hex to CMYK Converter

Convert HEX color codes to CMYK color values with this simple tool

Converter Tool

Enter HEX Color Code:

Enter 6-digit hex code without the # symbol

About Color Systems

HEX Color Code

HEX colors are used in web design and represented by a 6-digit code preceded by a # symbol. Each pair of digits represents the intensity of red, green, and blue (RGB) from 00 to FF in hexadecimal.

CMYK Color Model

CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) is a subtractive color model used primarily in printing. Values are expressed as percentages from 0% to 100%.

C (Cyan): Amount of cyan ink
M (Magenta): Amount of magenta ink
Y (Yellow): Amount of yellow ink
K (Key/Black): Amount of black ink

Why Use CMYK?

CMYK is the standard for print materials like brochures, business cards, and magazines. Converting from web colors (HEX) to print colors (CMYK) ensures your printed materials look as expected.

How to Use Hex to CMYK Converter

Enter HEX Code

Type a valid 6-digit hexadecimal color code (without the # symbol) into the input field. For example: 1A2B3C or FF5733.

Click Convert

Press the "Convert to CMYK" button to process your HEX code. The tool will calculate the equivalent CMYK values using standard color conversion formulas.

View Results

See the resulting CMYK values displayed as percentages. The color preview box will show you the visual representation of the selected color.

Examples

HEX: #FF0000

CMYK: 0%, 100%, 100%, 0%

HEX: #00FF00

CMYK: 100%, 0%, 100%, 0%

HEX: #0000FF

CMYK: 100%, 100%, 0%, 0%

Tips

Make sure to enter a valid 6-digit hexadecimal code (0-9, A-F characters only)
The color preview helps you confirm you've entered the correct color
For print work, CMYK values may appear slightly different from screen colors
Some HEX colors cannot be perfectly represented in CMYK due to color gamut differences
For professional printing, always consult with your printer for color matching

Technical Details

Conversion Formula

This tool uses the standard algorithm to convert HEX to CMYK:

First, HEX is converted to RGB (0-255)
RGB values are normalized to 0-1 range
Black (K) is calculated as 1 - max(R, G, B)
If K = 1 (black), then C = M = Y = 0
Otherwise, C = (1-R-K)/(1-K), M = (1-G-K)/(1-K), Y = (1-B-K)/(1-K)
Values are converted to percentages (0-100%)

Limitations

There are some inherent limitations to color conversion:

RGB/HEX and CMYK use different color spaces with different gamuts
Some vibrant RGB colors cannot be precisely represented in CMYK
The conversion is mathematical and may not account for specific printer characteristics