BYTETOOLS

Delta E Color Difference Calculator

Measure how different two colours look with CIE76, CIE94 and CIEDE2000, and read the result against the just-noticeable-difference scale used in print QC.

Colour 1
Colour 2

Colour difference

#3b82f6
Colour 1
#2563eb
Colour 2
10.88
ΔE₀₀ (CIEDE2000)
11.20
ΔE₉₄ (graphic arts)
18.98
ΔE₇₆ (CIE76)

CIEDE2000 reading: Different colours.

CIELAB coordinates behind the numbers

#3b82f6 LabL* 55.632 a* 17.551 b* -64.420
#2563eb LabL* 46.062 a* 30.968 b* -73.823
ΔL*-9.570
Δa*13.418
Δb*-9.404

How to read a Delta E value

  • Under 1.0 — not perceptible by the human eye
  • 1.0 to 2.0 — perceptible only on very close inspection
  • 2.0 to 3.5 — noticeable to an unfamiliar observer
  • 3.5 to 5.0 — clearly noticeable
  • 5.0 to 10 — obviously different at a glance
  • 10 to 50 — different colours ← your pair
  • Above 50 — opposite colours

What is the Delta E Color Difference Calculator?

Delta E answers a question RGB cannot: how different do these two colours actually look? Both colours are converted to CIELAB first, then compared.

  • CIE76, CIE94 and CIEDE2000 calculated together
  • CIEDE2000 verified against the Sharma, Wu and Dalal test vectors
  • Graphic-arts and textile parameter sets for CIE94
  • Plain-English verdict on the just-noticeable-difference scale
  • Shows both CIELAB coordinates and the ΔL*, Δa*, Δb* components
  • Copyable report and fully offline operation

How to use the Delta E Color Difference Calculator

  1. 1

    Enter your first colour as a hex value or pick it with the swatch.

  2. 2

    Enter the second colour the same way.

  3. 3

    Switch on the textile parameters if you are comparing dyed materials rather than screen or print colour.

  4. 4

    Read ΔE₀₀ as your headline number and check the interpretation band highlighted below it.

  5. 5

    Use Copy report to paste the full comparison, including both Lab values, into a QC note.

About the Delta E Color Difference Calculator

Delta E answers a question RGB cannot: how different do these two colours actually look? Both colours are converted to CIELAB first, then compared. A ΔE under 1 is invisible to the human eye, around 2 needs a close look, and anything past 10 reads as two different colours.

Three formulas are shown because they disagree, and knowing which to trust matters. CIE76 is a plain Euclidean distance and overstates differences in saturated colours. CIE94 adds chroma and hue weighting. CIEDE2000 adds a lightness weighting, a hue-rotation term for the blue region and a chroma correction — it is the current standard and the one to quote.

This calculator runs entirely in your browser. The CIEDE2000 implementation reproduces all 22 test vectors from the Sharma, Wu and Dalal reference paper, so you can rely on the numbers.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good Delta E value?

It depends on the job. Under 1 means nobody can tell them apart. Under 2 is the usual target for a colour-critical print match or a display calibration. Between 2 and 5 is acceptable for most brand work, and above 5 people will notice the difference without being prompted.

Which Delta E formula should I use?

CIEDE2000 unless a specification tells you otherwise. It is the current CIE recommendation and handles the blue region and near-neutral colours far better than the older formulas. CIE76 is only worth keeping for compatibility with old data.

Why do CIE76 and CIEDE2000 give such different numbers?

CIE76 treats CIELAB as if equal distances everywhere mean equal perceived differences, which is not true. CIEDE2000 corrects for that with weighting functions for lightness, chroma and hue, plus a rotation term for blues. Saturated colours are where the two diverge most.

Can Delta E tell me if two colors will pass a brand check?

It gives you the measurement, but the threshold is your brand guideline's call. Many style guides specify a ΔE₀₀ tolerance — commonly 2 for print and 3 for screen. Check your own specification rather than assuming a universal number.

Does Delta E account for lighting conditions?

Not directly. The calculation assumes both colours are viewed under the same illuminant, and this tool uses D65 throughout. Two samples that match under one light source can differ under another — that is metamerism, and Delta E on its own will not reveal it.

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