Pantone® Coated Formula Reference

Hex to Pantone Matcher

Bridge the gap between digital screen design and physical offset printing. Enter any HEX or RGB color to find its closest Pantone Matching System (PMS) ink equivalent.

Famous Color Standards

Enter Digital Hex Color

RGB: (200, 16, 46)

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PANTONE®

PMS 186 C

Physical Ink PMS

🎯 100% Perceptual Similarity

Coca-Cola Red

PMS 186 C

Closest matching Pantone Matching System (PMS) coated formula ink reference. Delta-E color distance: 0.

Closest Alternative Pantone Colors

PMS 200 C

Crimson Wine

#BA0C2F

96.8%

PMS 185 C

Bright Red

#E4002B

92.5%

PMS 485 C

Primary Red

#DA291C

91.6%

PMS 1788 C

Flame Red

#EE2737

89.5%

PMS 241 C

Shocking Magenta

#B1005D

88.7%

PMS 7427 C

Brick Cardinal

#9B2743

87.9%

Why Match Hex Colors to Pantone (PMS)?

What Is the Pantone Matching System (PMS)?

Created in 1963, the Pantone Matching System (PMS) is the standardized global color reproduction system for commercial printing, packaging, and manufacturing.

Unlike 4-color process (CMYK) printing which blends microscopic dots on press, Pantone colors are pre-mixed spot inks formulated with precise recipes. Specifying PMS 186 C guarantees Coca-Cola's iconic red prints identically whether produced in Tokyo, London, or New York.

Understanding Coated (C) vs. Uncoated (U)

Pantone formulas vary based on the substrate paper finish:

Coated (C): Formulated for glossy or coated papers where ink rests on top of the surface, preserving vivid saturation.
Uncoated (U): Formulated for porous matte stationery and letterheads where ink absorbs into paper fibers, producing a softer hue.