How many DMC colors are there in total?

This reference contains all 489 solid colors from DMC's January 2021 Article 117 Mouliné Spécial list. Ombré and specialty lines such as Light Effects, Color Variations, Satin, and Pearl Cotton are not included because they cannot be represented by one solid screen color.

Are the hex codes on this chart exact matches for the physical thread?

The hex values are close visual approximations used for on-screen preview and for matching images to thread colors. They are calibrated to look right on typical sRGB displays, but real cotton floss reflects light differently than a monitor pixel, so a skein in hand will never look identical to a hex swatch. Always check a physical color card before committing to a large project.

How do I convert a hex code to a DMC thread color?

Paste the hex value into ArtPatt's free DMC color matcher and it returns the closest floss by CIEDE2000 perceptual distance, along with the next few nearest options. You can also pick a color directly out of an uploaded image. Going the other way — DMC number to hex — this chart lists the approximate hex for all 489 colors, searchable by number or name.

How does ArtPatt pick which DMC color to use when I upload a photo?

Every pixel region is matched to the closest of the 489 reference colors available in ArtPatt using the CIEDE2000 perceptual difference formula. It weights differences more like human vision than plain RGB distance, which helps with skin tones, dark shadows, and subtle variations. You can also manually swap any color in the generator.

Is this DMC color chart free to download?

Yes. The full list of 489 colors — numbers, names, and hex codes — is free to browse on this page and free to download as a CSV file, with no sign-up. The same palette powers ArtPatt's free pattern generators.

What are the most-used DMC colors?

310 (Black) and B5200/Blanc (whites) appear in almost every chart, followed by staple shades like 321 (Red), 799/798 (Delft Blues), 703 (Chartreuse), 972 (Deep Canary), and the 3862–3864 Mocha Beige family for skin and wood tones. If you are building a starter stash, blacks, whites, and a light-to-dark run of one gray family cover the most patterns per skein.

Do DMC numbers match Anchor or other thread brands?

No — every brand uses its own numbering, so DMC 310 and Anchor 403 are both black but the numbers are unrelated. Use a conversion chart when a pattern is written for another brand; ArtPatt has a free DMC to Anchor conversion chart, and close matches exist for most but not all colors.

Can I use this chart for diamond painting?

Yes. Diamond painting drills use the same DMC numbering system, so a chart calling for drill color 310 corresponds to the DMC 310 on this page. ArtPatt's diamond painting generator labels every drill color with its DMC code for exactly this reason.

What should I do if my local shop is out of a DMC color?

Look at adjacent entries in the same color family — e.g., if DMC 3721 (Dk Shell Pink) is out, try 3722 or 3350 as near neighbors. You can also convert to another brand using our DMC to Anchor conversion chart. Ordering one skein of a slightly different shade usually reads fine on a large project, but never substitute a background or large-area color without a test swatch.

DMC Color Chart with Names, Numbers & Hex Codes

Look up any of the 489 solid DMC six-strand floss colors: search by number, name, or hex code, filter by color family, copy a code with one click, and print the chart for your stash.

All DMC Colors

489 colors

Swatch	DMC #	Color Name	Hex Code
		Snow White
		White
		Ecru
		White Tin
		Tin
		Medium Tin
		Dark Tin
		Light Driftwood
		Medium Light Driftwood
		Driftwood
		Dark Driftwood
		Very Dark Cocoa
		Very Light Tender Green
		Light Tender Green
		Tender Green
		Medium Light Nile Green
		Pale Apple Green
		Apple Green
		Light Chartreuse
		Light Yellow Plum
		Yellow Plum
		Medium Light Autumn Gold
		Shrimp
		Light Alizarin
		Alizarin
		Apple Blossom
		White Lavender
		Ultra Light Lavender
		Pale Lavender
		White Violet
		Medium Light Eggplant
		Eggplant
		Medium Light Blueberry
		Blueberry
		Dark Blueberry
		Fuchsia
		Dark Fuchsia
		3 of3
		Ultra Very Dark Dusty Rose
		Very Light Dusty Rose
		Medium Light Shell Pink
		Very Light Violet
		Very Dark Grape
		Medium Dark Blue Violet
		Medium Light Blue Violet
		Very Light Cornflower Blue
		Medium Very Dark Cornflower Blue
		Light Gray Blue
		Medium Gray Blue
		Gray Blue
		Ultra Very Light Blue
		Medium Caledon Green
		Light Forest Green
		Very Light Moss Green
		Medium Light Moss Green
		Very Dark Yellow Beige
		Very Light Pewter
		Light Pewter
		Very Dark Lavender
		Dark Lavender
		Medium Lavender
		Light Lavender
		Very Dark Shell Pink
		Light Shell Pink
		Very Light Shell Pink
		Ultra Very Light Shell Pink
		Very Dark Mahogany
		Medium Mahogany
		Medium Red
		Lemon
		Ultra Very Dark Rose
		Black
		Medium Navy Blue
		Very Dark Baby Blue
		Medium Dark Antique Mauve
		Medium Antique Mauve
		Pewter Gray
		Light Steel Gray
		Very Dark Pistachio Green
		Medium Pistachio Green
		Red
		Dark Baby Blue
		Very Dark Rose
		Dark Violet
		Very Dark Blue Violet
		Medium Baby Blue
		Rose
		Navy Blue
		Medium Blue Violet
		Light Blue Violet
		Very Dark Salmon
		Dark Coral
		Medium Coral
		Coral
		Light Coral
		Peach
		Dark Terra Cotta
		Medium Terra Cotta
		Dark Pistachio Green
		Light Pistachio Green
Matching a photo to these colors? The generator picks the closest DMC threads automatically. Try it free
		Very Light Pistachio Green
		Medium Mustard
		Mustard
		Light Mustard
		Dark Mahogany
		Very Light Mahogany
		Dark Desert Sand
		Dark Pewter Gray
		Dark Steel Gray
		Pearl Gray
		Dark Hazelnut Brown
		Light Hazelnut Brown
		Medium Brown
		Light Brown
		Very Light Brown
		Tan
		Light Tan
		Dark Lemon
		Light Lemon
		Dark Shell Gray
		Medium Shell Gray
		Light Shell Gray
		Avocado Green
		Light Avocado Green
		Very Light Avocado Green
		Ultra Light Avocado Green
		Dark Red
		Very Dark Blue Green
		Dark Blue Green
		Blue Green
		Medium Blue Green
		Very Light Blue Green
		Jade Green
		Dark Wedgwood
		Light Wedgwood
		Sky Blue
		Dark Fern Green
		Fern Green
		Light Fern Green
		Very Light Fern Green
		Very Light Ash Gray
		Ultra Very Light Beige
		Very Dark Violet
		Medium Violet
		Violet
		Light Violet
		Very Dark Jade
		Medium Jade
		Light Jade
		Very Light Jade
		Dark Moss Green
		Moss Green
		Turquoise
		Light Turquoise
		Very Dark Cranberry
		Dark Cranberry
		Medium Cranberry
		Cranberry
		Light Cranberry
		Very Light Cranberry
		Bright Orange-Red
		Bright Orange
		Dark Drab Brown
		Drab Brown
		Light Drab Brown
		Very Light Drab Brown
		Ultra Very Dark Desert Sand
		Very Dark Beige Gray
		Dark Beige Gray
		Medium Beige Gray
		Very Dark Beaver Gray
		Dark Beaver Gray
		Medium Beaver Gray
		Light Beaver Gray
		Bright Red
		Light Old Gold
		Very Light Old Gold
		Dark Old Gold
		Green
		Bright Green
		Light Green
		Kelly Green
		Chartreuse
		Bright Chartreuse
		Cream
		Plum
		Dark Orange Spice
		Medium Orange Spice
		Light Orange Spice
		Medium Light Topaz
		Light Topaz
		Very Light Topaz
		Topaz
		Medium Old Gold
		Very Dark Olive Green
		Dark Olive Green
		Olive Green
		Medium Olive Green
		Light Olive Green
		Very Light Tan
Matching a photo to these colors? The generator picks the closest DMC threads automatically. Try it free
		Ultra Very Light Tan
		Tangerine
		Medium Tangerine
		Light Tangerine
		Medium Yellow
		Pale Yellow
		Light Pale Yellow
		Off White
		Very Light Sky Blue
		Light Peach
		Very Light Terra Cotta
		Salmon
		Light Salmon
		Very Light Pearl Gray
		Very Light Yellow Green
		Very Light Baby Blue
		Medium Pink
		Very Dark Raspberry
		Very Light Antique Mauve
		Dark Cocoa
		Ultra Very Dark Topaz
		Very Dark Topaz
		Dark Topaz
		Medium Topaz
		Very Dark Cornflower Blue
		Dark Cornflower Blue
		Medium Cornflower Blue
		Light Cornflower Blue
		Dark Royal Blue
		Royal Blue
		Dark Delft Blue
		Medium Delft Blue
		Pale Delft Blue
		Dark Coffee Brown
		Ultra Very Dark Baby Blue
		Medium Dark Wedgwood
		Peacock Blue
		Delft Blue
		Light Blue
		Dark Garnet
		Medium Garnet
		Garnet
		Very Dark Coral Red
		Baby Pink
		Light Baby Pink
		Very Dark Royal Blue
		Light Beige Gray
		Dark Navy Blue
		Very Dark Blue
		Dark Blue
		Medium Blue
		Very Light Blue
		Ultra Very Light Sky Blue
		Very Dark Golden Olive
		Dark Golden Olive
		Medium Golden Olive
		Golden Olive
		Light Golden Olive
		Very Light Golden Olive
		Very Dark Beige Brown
		Dark Beige Brown
		Medium Beige Brown
		Light Beige Brown
		Very Light Beige Brown
		Ultra Dark Beaver Gray
		Very Dark Hazelnut Brown
		Ultra Dark Pistachio Green
		Dark Carnation
		Medium Carnation
		Light Carnation
		Very Light Carnation
		Very Dark Hunter Green
		Very Dark Coffee Brown
		Medium Rose
		Dark Burnt Orange
		Very Dark Garnet
		Very Dark Parrot Green
		Dark Parrot Green
		Medium Parrot Green
		Light Parrot Green
		Very Dark Emerald Green
		Dark Emerald Green
		Medium Emerald Green
		Light Emerald Green
		Medium Nile Green
		Dark Plum
		Medium Plum
		Dark Red Copper
		Red Copper
		Medium Copper
		Copper
		Light Copper
		Very Dark Gray Green
		Medium Gray Green
		Light Gray Green
		Very Light Gray Green
		Dark Antique Blue
		Medium Antique Blue
		Light Antique Blue
		Black Avocado Green
Matching a photo to these colors? The generator picks the closest DMC threads automatically. Try it free
		Dark Avocado Green
		Very Dark Avocado Green
		Medium Avocado Green
		Ultra Dark Coffee Brown
		Very Dark Navy Blue
		Medium Aquamarine
		Tawny
		Medium Burnt Orange
		Burnt Orange
		Very Light Peach
		Light Desert Sand
		Light Tawny
		Nile Green
		Light Nile Green
		Geranium
		Pale Geranium
		Dark Seagreen
		Medium Seagreen
		Dark Dusty Rose
		Medium Dusty Rose
		Ultra Very Light Dusty Rose
		Light Seagreen
		Medium Baby Green
		Very Light Apricot
		Light Pumpkin
		Pumpkin
		Deep Canary
		Bright Canary
		Dark Golden Brown
		Medium Golden Brown
		Light Golden Brown
		Very Dark Forest Green
		Dark Forest Green
		Medium Forest Green
		Forest Green
		Dark Aquamarine
		Light Aquamarine
		Very Light Aquamarine
		Dark Electric Blue
		Medium Electric Blue
		Dark Khaki Green
		Medium Khaki Green
		Light Khaki Green
		Very Dark Brown Gray
		Medium Brown Gray
		Light Brown Gray
		Very Light Brown Gray
		Very Dark Mocha Brown
		Medium Mocha Brown
		Very Light Mocha Brown
		Medium Antique Violet
		Light Antique Violet
		Dark Yellow Beige
		Medium Yellow Beige
		Light Yellow Beige
		Dark Green Gray
		Medium Green Gray
		Green Gray
		Desert Sand
		Very Light Beaver Gray
		Very Light Golden Yellow
		Light Baby Blue.
		Light Rose
		Dark Salmon
		Medium Apricot
		Apricot
		Dark Hunter Green
		Hunter Green
		Medium Yellow Green
		Light Yellow Green
		Ultra Dark Dusty Rose
		Light Dusty Rose
		Dark Pine Green
		Medium Pine Green
		Pine Green
		Black Brown
		Light Plum
		Very Light Plum
		Ultra Light Plum
		Very Dark Mauve
		Mauve
		Medium Mauve
		Light Mauve
		Dark Melon
		Medium Melon
		Light Melon
		Medium Salmon
		Very Light Salmon
		Very Light Rose
		Dark Shell Pink
		Medium Shell Pink
		Dark Antique Mauve
		Light Antique Mauve
		Very Dark Dusty Rose
		Dusty Rose
		Dark Antique Violet
		Very Light Antique Violet
		Dark Blue Violet
		Very Light Blue Violet
		Very Dark Antique Blue
Matching a photo to these colors? The generator picks the closest DMC threads automatically. Try it free
		Very Light Antique Blue
		Ultra Very Light Antique Blue
		Baby Blue
		Ultra Very Light Baby Blue
		Medium Wedgwood
		Light Sky Blue
		Very Dark Peacock Blue
		Light Peacock Blue
		Dark Gray Green
		Very Light Tawny
		Ultra Very Light Terra Cotta
		Very Dark Desert Sand
		Medium Desert Sand
		Very Light Desert Sand
		Light Mahogany
		Very Dark Terra Cotta
		Light Terra Cotta
		Very Light Rosewood
		Dark Mocha Brown
		Light Mocha Brown
		Dark Brown Gray
		Ultra Dark Beige Gray
		Very Dark Pewter Gray
		Very Dark Melon
		Very Dark Antique Mauve
		Dark Mauve
		Dark Cyclamen Pink
		Cyclamen Pink
		Light Cyclamen Pink
		Cornflower Blue
		Ultra Very Dark Turquoise
		Very Dark turquoise
		Dark Turquoise
		Very Light Turquoise
		Very Dark Seagreen
		Light Blue Green
		Aquamarine
		Dark Celadon Green
		Celadon Green
		Light Celadon Green
		Ultra Very Dark Emerald Green
		Light Moss Green
		Dark Straw
		Straw
		Light Straw
		Ultra Pale Yellow
		Light Apricot
		Pale Pumpkin
		Golden Brown
		Pale Golden Brown
		Hazelnut Brown
		Very Dark Old Gold
		Terra Cotta
		Dark Raspberry
		Medium Raspberry
		Light Raspberry
		Dark Grape
		Medium Grape
		Light Grape
		Ultra Dark Lavender
		Dark Lavender Blue
		Medium Lavender Blue
		Light Lavender Blue
		Pale Baby Blue
		Very Dark Wedgwood
		Electric Blue
		Dark Bright Turquoise
		Medium Bright Turquoise
		Light Bright Turquoise
		Dark Teal Green
		Medium Teal Green
		Light Teal Green
		Dark Bright Green
		Light Bright Green
		Very Dark Straw
		Dark Autumn Gold
		Medium Autumn Gold
		Light Autumn Gold
		Ultra Very Light Mahogany
		Dark Rosewood
		Medium Rosewood
		Light Rosewood
		Cocoa
		Light Cocoa
		Dark Mocha Beige
		Medium Mocha Beige
		Light Mocha Beige
		Winter White
		Ultra Very Light Mocha

Download the full reference

Save all 489 colors, names, numbers, and approximate hex codes — a printable PDF for your stash bag, or a CSV for palette work and pattern design.

Download CSV

Converting a hex code to DMC thread?

This chart lists the hex value of every DMC color. To go the other way — paste any hex code, or pull a color straight out of an image, and get the closest floss — use the DMC color matcher.

Hex to DMC converter

Popular DMC colors in detail

Each page covers one thread: swatch, hex and RGB, the Anchor equivalent, the closest substitute threads, and the rest of its shade family.

DMC 310Black DMC 336Navy Blue DMC 415Pearl Gray DMC 444Dark Lemon DMC 644Medium Beige Gray DMC 676Light Old Gold DMC 742Light Tangerine DMC 823Dark Navy Blue DMC 842Very Light Beige Brown DMC 938Ultra Dark Coffee Brown DMC 996Medium Electric Blue

489Reference Colors

20+Color Families

CIEDE2000Matching Algorithm

YesUsed In Generator

How to Use This Chart

• Shopping: Find the DMC number and bring it to the craft store — each color has a unique number printed on the floss label.
• Pattern matching: Use the hex code to find exact color matches in design software or identify the closest DMC color for a custom palette.
• ArtPatt generator: The 489 colors shown here are available in the free cross-stitch pattern maker. The color swap tool searches by name, code, or color family.
• Substitutions: If a color is out of stock, look for adjacent entries in the same family — they share the same name with VL (Very Light), Lt (Light), MD (Medium), Dk (Dark), VD (Very Dark) suffixes.

Turn a photo into a real pattern

Upload a photo and get a printable pattern matched to these exact DMC threads.

Generate Pattern

About DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss

DMC (Dollfus-Mieg et Compagnie) is one of the most widely used embroidery thread brands. Each thread is six-strand cotton floss — you separate strands for different fabric counts (2 strands on 14-count Aida, 1 strand on 28-count evenweave, 3 strands on 11-count). Specialty threads such as Light Effects, Color Variations, Satin, and Pearl Cotton use separate product lines and are not included in this ArtPatt reference.

Understanding DMC Color Names

DMC names follow a structured system: the base color name (e.g., "Dusty Rose") combined with a shade modifier: UL VL (Ultra Very Light), VL (Very Light), Lt (Light), MD Lt (Medium Light), MD (Medium), MD Dk (Medium Dark), Dk (Dark), VD (Very Dark), UD (Ultra Dark). Colors in the same family share a name and shade descriptors — this makes it easy to find light/dark pairs for shading and highlights.

Using DMC Colors in the ArtPatt Generator

ArtPatt's cross-stitch and embroidery pattern generators use the 489 DMC reference colors shown on this page. When you upload a photo, the generator uses the CIEDE2000 perceptual color matching algorithm to find the closest available thread for each color region. CIEDE2000 weights color differences more like human vision than simple RGB distance. You can also manually swap any color in the pattern using this searchable reference palette.

DMC Color Chart with Names, Numbers & Hex Codes

All DMC Colors

DMC Color Chart — ArtPatt

Download the full reference

Converting a hex code to DMC thread?

Popular DMC colors in detail

How to Use This Chart

Turn a photo into a real pattern

About DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss

Understanding DMC Color Names

Using DMC Colors in the ArtPatt Generator

DMC Color Chart FAQ

Related Tools

DMC Color Chart with Names, Numbers & Hex Codes

All DMC Colors

DMC Color Chart — ArtPatt

Download the full reference

Converting a hex code to DMC thread?

Popular DMC colors in detail

How to Use This Chart

Turn a photo into a real pattern

About DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss

Understanding DMC Color Names

Using DMC Colors in the ArtPatt Generator

DMC Color Chart FAQ

How many DMC colors are there in total?

Are the hex codes on this chart exact matches for the physical thread?

How do I convert a hex code to a DMC thread color?

What do the DMC shade suffixes like Lt, MD, and VD mean?

How does ArtPatt pick which DMC color to use when I upload a photo?

Is this DMC color chart free to download?

What are the most-used DMC colors?

Do DMC numbers match Anchor or other thread brands?

Can I use this chart for diamond painting?

What should I do if my local shop is out of a DMC color?

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