About this DMC color chart
This chart lists 456 DMC thread colors, numbered from 0001 to White. Each row shows the thread number, color name, hex code and RGB value. Select Equivalents on any row to see the closest matching colors in 23 other thread brands.
DMC colors by color family
Colors are grouped automatically by hue and lightness, so the counts are approximate.
| Color family | Colors |
|---|---|
| Oranges | 91 |
| Reds | 70 |
| Greens | 65 |
| Whites, grays and blacks | 51 |
| Pinks and magentas | 46 |
| Yellows and golds | 42 |
| Blues | 32 |
| Teals and aquas | 30 |
| Browns | 23 |
| Purples | 6 |
Which thread brands are closest to DMC?
For every DMC color, we found the nearest color in each other brand and measured the difference with the CIEDE2000 (ΔE) formula. A lower average means the brand covers the DMC range more closely.
| Brand | Very close match (ΔE under 2) | Close match (ΔE under 5) | Average ΔE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | 77.9% | 92.5% | 1.1 |
| Sulky Polyester | 22.8% | 86% | 3.2 |
| Coats Alcazar | 8.8% | 70.8% | 4.2 |
| Isacord Polyester | 12.9% | 66.2% | 4.3 |
| Mettler Poly Sheen | 10.7% | 63.6% | 4.4 |
| Madeira Polyneon | 8.8% | 64% | 4.6 |
| Floriani Polyester | 9.2% | 61.4% | 4.6 |
| Madeira Rayon | 7.5% | 64.7% | 4.6 |
Convert a DMC thread number to another brand
Closest DMC threads to common colors
The DMC thread nearest to each reference color, with its closest match in the three brands that cover DMC best.
| Reference color | DMC | Anchor | Sulky Polyester | Coats Alcazar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black #000000 | 0310 Black | 403 Black | 1005 Black | 0900 Black |
| White #FFFFFF | White White | 1 Snow White | 100 Snow White | 0022 White |
| Gray #808080 | 0646 Beaver Grey Dark | 273 Stone Grey Dark | 3625 Silver | 0916 Medium Grey |
| Red #FF0000 | 0606 Bright Orange Red | 334 Blaze Medium | 1246 Blaze Medium | 0215 Orange / Red |
| Maroon #800000 | 0938 Coffee Brown Ultra Dark | 381 Fudge Medium | 1129 Brown | 1008 Dark Brown |
| Orange #FFA500 | 3853 Autumn Gold Dark | 290 Canary Yellow Medium | 61185 Bright Orange | 0011 Medium Orange |
| Gold #FFD700 | 3852 Straw Very Dark | 289 Canary Yellow Medium Light | 61187 Straw Very Dark | 0005 Yellow |
| Yellow #FFFF00 | 3821 Straw | 289 Canary Yellow Medium Light | 3853 Straw | 0003 Yellow |
| Forest green #228B22 | 3850 Green Dark Bright | 189 Sea Green Dark | 61101 Dark Green | 0557 Green |
| Navy #000080 | 0327 Violet Dark | 100 Violet Medium Dark | 1112 Royal Purple | 0852 Purple |
| Royal blue #4169E1 | 3843 Electric Bleu | 1089 Electric Bleu Medium | 61029 Jay Blue | 0641 Light Blue |
| Purple #800080 | 3837 Lavender Ultra Dark | 101 Violet Dark | 61255 Purple | 1038 Dark Purple |
How accurate are these values?
The hex and RGB values are digital approximations from the open-source Ink/Stitch palette files, not physical color measurements. Screens, lighting, dye lots and thread finish all change how a color looks, so check a physical DMC shade card before a production run. Match a hex color to thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colors are in this DMC chart?
This chart lists 456 DMC colors, numbered from 0001 to White. The list comes from the Ink/Stitch palette data and may differ from the manufacturer’s current range.
Which thread brand is closest to DMC?
Based on this palette data, Anchor is the closest overall: 77.9% of DMC colors have a very close match (ΔE under 2) and 92.5% have a close match (ΔE under 5). Sulky Polyester and Coats Alcazar are next.
How do I find the DMC equivalent in another brand?
Select Equivalents next to any color in the chart, or enter the thread number in the Thread Brand Converter. It shows the three nearest colors in each brand.
Are the hex codes exact DMC thread colors?
No. They are digital approximations, so check a physical DMC shade card before production.
