Pantone Numbering Explained

Pantone Metallics

(examples: PANTONE 877 C, PANTONE 8244 C)

Pantone Metallics Colors are referenced using either a three- or four-digit number that begins with “8”, followed by a “C” to indicate a coated paper stock. There is no uncoated version of Pantone Metallics Colors.

Pantone Premium Metallics

(example: PANTONE 10286 C)

Pantone Premium Metallics Colors are referenced using a five-digit number that begins with “10”, followed by a “C” to indicate coated paper stock. There is no uncoated version of Pantone Premium Metallics Colors.

Pantone Pastels & Neons

(examples: PANTONE 915 U, PANTONE Yellow 0131 C)

Pantone Pastels & Neons Colors are referenced using either a three- or four-digit number beginning with “9”. There are two exceptions: The neon base colors, which are three-digit numbers beginning with “8”, and the pastel base colors, which are named with a descriptive color name, followed by a four-digit number that begins with “0”. Each color has a suffix that indicates the type of paper stock on which it is printed: a "C" for coated or gloss paper or a "U" for uncoated paper.

Pantone CMYK / 4–Color Process Guides Coated, Uncoated

(examples: PANTONE P 11-4 C, PANTONE P 69-15 U).

These guides offer an independent collection of nearly 3,000 CMYK colors that bear no relationship to the Pantone Matching System.

Pantone Process Color numbers start with the letter P followed by a one- to three-digit number, a dash, and a one- to two-digit number. The "C" suffix indicates coated stock and the "U" uncoated.

Pantone Color Bridge Coated or Uncoated

(example: PANTONE 185 CP, PANTONE 425 UP)

This guide provides side-by-side printed comparisons of solid Pantone Matching System Colors and their closest four-color process equivalent. The process simulation is identified by using the solid color's name or number, followed by "CP" for coated or "UP" for uncoated.

Pantone Extended Gamut Coated Guide

(examples: PANTONE 7662 XGC, PANTONE 347 XGC)

The Pantone Extended Gamut Coated guide contains 1,729 seven-color simulations of the solid (spot) Pantone Matching System Colors printed on coated stock. The majority of these colors are referred to using a three- or four-digit number followed by an XGC. There are also a small number of named colors, such as the seven base colors like PANTONE Process Magenta C or PANTONE XG Orange C.

The letter suffix refers to the type of process: “XG” for Extended Gamut and a "C" for the coated or gloss paper on which it is printed.

Fashion, Home + Interiors Paper, Cotton, and Nylon Guides and Standards

(examples PANTONE 14–4510 TPX or Aquatic, PANTONE 15–1247 TCX or Tangerine)

Color reference numbers in this system contain two digits followed by a dash and four digits with either a TPX or TC suffix. TPX indicates that that the reference was printed on paper, the TC indicates that it’s a dyed cotton reference. Each color also has an alpha name reference as a secondary identifier. Now in eco-friendly formulations indicated by TPG color suffix. This new edition of the Color Guide presents the existing 2,310 Fashion, Home + Interiors Colors created from new, more Earth-friendly formulations and an accompanying new Pantone Color Number suffix, TPG (Textile Paper – “Green”).

Pantone Plastics Selector Chips

(examples PANTONE Q270–2–4, PANTONE T925–5–5)

Pantone Plastics Selector color references are denoted by a Q or a T followed by a three–digit number, a dash and two single digits separated by a dash. The Q and T signify opaque and transparent colors, respectively.

Pantone Plastic Standard Chips (large plastic chips)

(examples PANTONE PQ-185C, PQ-19-4007TCX)

Pantone Plastic Standard Chips are matched to the colors in the Pantone Matching System or Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System. The chips have two levels of thickness are made using Polypropylene resin.

Pantone Plastic Standard Chips color references matched to the Pantone Matching System are denoted by a PQ followed by a dash and the three- or four-digit color number (corresponding to the Pantone Matching System) plus a “C”. PANTONE Plastic Standard Chips color references matched to the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors Color System are denoted by a PQ followed by a dash, two digits, a second dash, and the final four digits of the matched Fashion, Home + Interiors plus the TCX suffix.