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ΔE Color Difference Calculator

Enter the L*a*b* values from your spectrophotometer. See the color difference, whether it is within tolerance and in which direction the sample deviates from the standard.

Standard (target)
Sample (measured)
Standard (target)
Sample (measured)

How to read ΔE

  • < 0.5Hardly visible even to a trained eye
  • 0.5 – 1.0Visible to an expert side by side
  • 1.0 – 2.0Visible on close inspection
  • 2.0 – 3.5Clear difference
  • > 3.5Perceived as a different color

Thresholds are common approximate values; acceptance tolerance depends on the industry and customer specification. On-screen swatches are approximate (D65/10°, sRGB). Our laboratory targets ΔE < 1.0 in color matching.

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