NCS S 1040-R40B - Pink
NCS S 1040-R40B (Pink) is an NCS color with a HEX approximation of #FFB6C1, RGB 255, 182, 193, and CMYK 0/29/24/0. It has 10% blackness and 40% chromaticness with hue R40B. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is 176 C (Delta E 1.42), and its closest NCS neighbor is S 1050-R50B (Hot Pink).
About NCS S 1040-R40B
NCS S 1040-R40B is part of the Natural Color System, a perceptual color notation system developed in Sweden and widely used across Scandinavia and Northern Europe for architectural paint specifications. The code reads as: S (Standard) · 10% blackness · 40% chromaticness · hue R40B.
Like every NCS code, S 1040-R40B is defined by a physical paint swatch in the NCS Color Atlas, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #FFB6C1 is the most commonly-published translation, but physical NCS swatches are the only authoritative source. The full NCS Atlas contains roughly 1,950 codes; our reference covers 50 benchmark codes.
Closest Pantone match
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to NCS S 1040-R40B is 176 C (#FFB1BB), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.42. This is a very close match suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Closest NCS neighbors
These NCS codes are perceptually closest to S 1040-R40B, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family differ by Delta E 2-8 typically - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where NCS S 1040-R40B is used
NCS S 1040-R40B is typically specified in decorative accents, hospitality interiors, and specialty architectural details. Its pink tone makes it appropriate wherever a refined, specialty, or decorative palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 1040-R40B for a production run, verify the color against a physical NCS color fan under the actual lighting conditions and finish (matte, semi-gloss, gloss) that will be used - the same code looks meaningfully different across finishes.
Frequently asked questions
What is NCS S 1040-R40B in HEX?
NCS S 1040-R40B (Pink) has a HEX approximation of #FFB6C1. This is the widely-published mid-range value - NCS is a perceptual color notation system, not a digital one, so any HEX representation is a translation rather than a definition. Different published sources disagree by 2-5% for the same NCS code; #FFB6C1 is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What does NCS S 1040-R40B mean?
The code breaks down as: S (Standard), 10% blackness, 40% chromaticness, hue R40B. Blackness measures how much black the color contains relative to pure white (0%) and pure black (100%). Chromaticness measures how saturated the color is relative to a neutral gray at the same blackness. Hue R40B specifies the position on the NCS perceptual color wheel - with Y for yellow, R for red, B for blue, G for green, or N for neutral.
What Pantone color is closest to NCS S 1040-R40B?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated match to NCS S 1040-R40B is 176 C (#FFB1BB), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.42. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
What NCS color is closest to NCS S 1040-R40B?
The closest NCS neighbors to S 1040-R40B are S 1050-R50B (Hot Pink, Delta E 18.2), S 2000-N (Medium Grey, Delta E 21.2), S 1500-N (Grey, Delta E 21.3). Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where is NCS S 1040-R40B commonly used?
NCS S 1040-R40B is typically used in decorative accents, hospitality interiors, and specialty architectural details. Its pink tone makes it appropriate wherever a refined, specialty, or decorative palette is wanted. Before specifying NCS S 1040-R40B for a production run, verify against a physical NCS color fan - the same code looks meaningfully different in different finishes.