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HEX to CMYK Converter

Paste a hex color code and read its cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink percentages instantly, with a live swatch.

3, 4, 6, or 8 digit hex, with or without the #. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

CMYK breakdown
0%
Cyan
60%
Magenta
100%
Yellow
0%
Black
CMYKcmyk(0%, 60%, 100%, 0%)
RGBrgb(255, 102, 0)
HEX#ff6600
Precision

How to convert HEX to CMYK online

  1. Enter a hex code

    Type or paste a hex color code such as #ff6600, with or without the leading # sign, or use the color picker.

  2. Read the CMYK values

    The cyan, magenta, yellow, and black percentages update instantly as you type, each with its own ink bar.

  3. Set the precision

    Choose whole numbers or one or two decimal places to match what your print software expects.

  4. Copy the result

    Copy the full cmyk() string with the main button, or copy any single format from its row.

Why use this tool

Accepts every hex form

Works with 3, 4, 6, and 8 digit hex codes, with or without the # prefix. Shorthand codes expand automatically, and alpha digits are ignored because printed ink has no transparency.

Per-channel ink breakdown

Each of the four channels is shown as its own percentage with a proportional ink bar, so you can see at a glance how much cyan, magenta, yellow, and black a color needs.

Adjustable precision

Switch between whole numbers and one or two decimal places. Some layout tools want rounded values while others accept fractions, and the output updates instantly.

CMYK, RGB, and HEX together

Alongside the cmyk() string you also get the matching rgb() value and the normalized 6 digit hex code, each with its own copy button.

Runs entirely in your browser

The conversion happens on your device. No color you enter is ever sent anywhere.

About this tool

Hex codes describe colors for screens, where red, green, and blue light mix together. Print works the other way around: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks absorb light from white paper. When a design moves from a website or brand guide to business cards, packaging, or a brochure, the hex values need to become CMYK percentages that print software understands. This converter does that translation instantly. Paste a hex code and the four ink percentages appear as you type, together with a live swatch, the cmyk() string, and the matching RGB value.

The conversion uses the standard formula: black is set to the smallest amount of ink that the color needs, and the cyan, magenta, and yellow channels cover whatever remains. Pure black (#000000) correctly comes out as 100% black ink and nothing else, and pure white is zero across all four channels. You can round the output to whole numbers or keep one or two decimal places, depending on what your layout tool asks for.

Keep in mind that CMYK is device dependent. The percentages here are the nominal conversion; the exact printed shade still depends on the printer, ink, and paper, so always check a physical proof for color-critical work. Going the other direction, the CMYK to RGB converter turns ink values back into screen colors, the RGB to CMYK converter starts from channel values instead of a hex code, and the color converter shows every format at once.

Frequently asked questions

How does the HEX to CMYK conversion work?
The hex code is first read as red, green, and blue values. Black ink is then set to the smallest amount needed for the color, and the cyan, magenta, and yellow percentages are calculated from whatever each channel still needs after that black is removed. This is the standard formula used by design tools.
Which hex formats are accepted?
You can enter 3, 4, 6, or 8 digit hex codes, with or without the leading # sign, in upper or lower case. Shorthand codes like #f60 expand to #ff6600 automatically. If a code includes alpha digits, they are ignored, because CMYK describes opaque ink.
Why does the printed color look different from my screen?
CMYK is device dependent. The percentages shown here are the standard nominal conversion, but the final printed shade depends on the printer, the ink set, and the paper. For color-critical work, always confirm with a printed proof or your print vendor.
What do pure black and pure white convert to?
Pure black (#000000) converts to 0% cyan, 0% magenta, 0% yellow, and 100% black. Pure white (#ffffff) is 0% across all four channels, since white paper needs no ink at all.
Is my color uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.

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