🎯 Delta-E Color Difference Calculator
Enter two colors to get their Delta-E — how different they look — with the CIEDE2000 and CIE76 values and a plain-English verdict.
ΔE (CIEDE2000)
3.45
ΔE (CIE76)
11.88
Perceptible at a glance
Delta-E (ΔE) measures how different two colours look, in CIELAB space. A ΔE of about 1 is the "just-noticeable difference" — below it, most people can\'t tell the colours apart; around 2–3 is a close match; large values are clearly different. CIEDE2000 is the modern, perceptually-accurate formula; the older CIE76 is a simple Euclidean distance shown for comparison. Used in print, QA and brand-colour matching. 🔒 In your browser.
How the delta-e color difference calculator works
Delta-E (ΔE) is the distance between two colours in the perceptually-uniform CIELAB space. The tool converts each colour from RGB through XYZ to Lab, then computes the difference two ways: the modern, perceptually-accurate CIEDE2000 formula, and the older CIE76 (a simple straight-line distance) for comparison. A smaller ΔE means a closer match.
A ΔE of about 1.0 is the "just-noticeable difference" — the smallest change a person can typically see. Below 1 the colours look identical; 1–2 is a very close match; large values are obviously different. CIEDE2000 corrects CIE76's known weaknesses (especially in blues and near-neutrals), so trust it over CIE76 when they disagree.
Frequently asked questions
What is Delta-E?
A single number for how different two colours look, measured in CIELAB colour space. ΔE ≈ 1 is the just-noticeable difference; smaller means the colours match more closely, larger means they're clearly different.
What is a good Delta-E value?
For a close match, aim for ΔE below about 2 (below 1 is imperceptible to most people). Print and display calibration often target ΔE under 2–3; brand-colour tolerances are frequently set around 1–2.
What is the difference between CIEDE2000 and CIE76?
CIE76 is the original, simple Euclidean distance in Lab; CIEDE2000 adds corrections for how our eyes actually perceive lightness, chroma and hue differences, making it far more accurate — especially for blues and near-greys. This tool shows both.
How is Delta-E calculated?
Convert both colours to CIELAB (via XYZ), then apply the ΔE formula. CIE76 is √(ΔL²+Δa²+Δb²); CIEDE2000 is a weighted formula with lightness, chroma and hue terms plus a rotation correction. The tool computes both.
What is Delta-E used for?
Colour quality control — matching prints to a proof, calibrating monitors, checking brand colours across materials, and grading how faithfully a device reproduces colour. It turns "close enough?" into a measurable number.