CMYK to hex converter
Set cyan, magenta, yellow and key, and read the matching hex code instantly. HueKit also shows RGB and HSL so you have every format at once.
Working with a design system? Paste several hex codes, one per line or comma-separated, to convert them all at once and save the set as a palette.
Converting CMYK to hex
This is really two conversions run back to back. First HueKit turns CMYK into RGB, blending the key plate into each ink so red, green and blue land somewhere between 0 and 255. Then each of those three numbers is written as a two digit base 16 pair, and the pairs are joined behind a hash to form the hex code.
The trip loses nothing extra beyond the usual whole number rounding on each channel, so the hex code is a faithful on-screen read of the CMYK values you entered.
When you need this jump
Reach for this converter when a color starts as a print spec, perhaps from a brand guideline sheet, and needs a hex code for a website or app. It gets you a solid starting point fast. For the raw RGB channels instead of a packed hex string, use the CMYK to RGB converter, and the reverse direction lives at hex to CMYK.
A worked example
Starting from cmyk(84%, 58%, 0%, 8%):
- Divide every channel by 100: C = 0.8426, M = 0.5787, Y = 0.0000, K = 0.0784
- R = 255 x (1 - C) x (1 - K) = 255 x 0.1574 x 0.9216 = 37
- G = 255 x (1 - M) x (1 - K) = 255 x 0.4213 x 0.9216 = 99
- B = 255 x (1 - Y) x (1 - K) = 255 x 1.0000 x 0.9216 = 235
- Write each channel in base 16: #2563EB
Result: #2563EB
The inverse of the naive formula. A CMYK value that came from a profiled conversion will not round trip through this.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert CMYK to hex?
CMYK first becomes RGB by blending each ink percentage with the key, then every RGB channel is written as two hex digits from 00 to FF. HueKit runs both steps together the moment you move a slider.
Why might a hex value look different once it's printed?
Hex describes light on a screen, while CMYK describes ink on paper, and the two use different color gamuts. The hex code here is the closest on-screen match for the CMYK values you entered, which is useful for mockups but not for color-matching an actual print run.
What CMYK values give pure white and pure black hex?
0, 0, 0, 0 converts to #FFFFFF, pure white, because no ink is applied at all. 0, 0, 0, 100 converts to #000000, pure black, because the key channel alone is at full strength.
Related tools
Last updated by FusionStudios. Every value on this page is computed by the same functions the tools use. How this is calculated.