Developer API

Cross-Brand Paint Color Match API

Send any hex value and get the closest paint color equivalents across 13 brands, scored with the industry-standard CIEDE2000 (Delta E) formula over 26,000+ colors. The same engine behind Paint Color HQ's cross-brand matching, as a simple REST endpoint.

Endpoint

GET https://www.paintcolorhq.com/api/color-match?hex=7F9B8E

CORS-open, no key required for the free tier. Responses are cached at the edge for 24 hours.

Parameters

Param	Required	Description
hex	yes	6-digit hex, with or without `#` (e.g. `7F9B8E`). Paid tier accepts a comma-separated list for batch lookups.
brand	no	Restrict matches to one brand slug (e.g. `sherwin-williams`, `benjamin-moore`).
limit	no	Number of matches. Free tier returns 10; paid tier accepts 1–50.

Free response

Top 10 matches, sorted by Delta E (lower = closer; under 2.0 is near-identical).

{
  "matches": [
    {
      "name": "Comfort Gray",
      "hex": "#9C9B8E",
      "brandName": "Sherwin-Williams",
      "brandSlug": "sherwin-williams",
      "colorSlug": "comfort-gray-6205",
      "colorNumber": "6205",
      "deltaE": 1.84
    }
  ]
}

Paid tier (RapidAPI)

The paid tier adds up to 50 results, batch lookups (comma-separated hex), and per-match color-science fields — LAB, RGB, undertone, LRV, and color family — for design tools and palette engines. Authentication, rate limits, and billing are handled by RapidAPI.

{
  "matches": [
    {
      "name": "Comfort Gray", "hex": "#9C9B8E",
      "brandName": "Sherwin-Williams", "colorSlug": "comfort-gray-6205",
      "colorNumber": "6205", "deltaE": 1.84,
      "lab": { "L": 63.2, "a": -2.1, "b": 4.8 },
      "rgb": { "r": 156, "g": 155, "b": 142 },
      "undertone": "Green", "lrv": 31.4, "colorFamily": "green"
    }
  ]
}

Get an API key on RapidAPI →

For AI agents (MCP server)

The same cross-brand matcher is exposed as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) tool, so AI assistants and agents can call it directly. Point any MCP client at the stateless Streamable HTTP endpoint — no key required:

https://www.paintcolorhq.com/api/mcp

Tool match_paint_color — pass a hex value and get the closest real, purchasable paint colors across 13 brands, scored with CIEDE2000. Optional brand and limit arguments.

Notes

Match accuracy uses CIEDE2000 — see our methodology. Always confirm a final choice with a physical sample.
Color data spans 26,000+ colors across 13 brands and is updated as brand palettes change.
Prefer no code? The same matcher is available as a free embeddable widget.