Pantone Color of the Year 2000
The Pantone Color of the Year 2000 is Cerulean (15-4020). Its HEX approximation is #9BB7D4. A calm, sky-blue shade that opened the millennium with quiet optimism — cool, restrained, and slightly retro.
About Cerulean
A calm, sky-blue shade that opened the millennium with quiet optimism — cool, restrained, and slightly retro.
Pantone announced Cerulean as its Color of the Year 2000 in December 1999, following the program's annual cadence. The announcement placed the shade within the broader cultural conversation of the year — from fashion and interiors to graphics and packaging — and was accompanied by coordinated product releases from partner brands who had pre-adopted the color. Like every Pantone Color of the Year, Cerulean is a TCX reference (15-4020) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, Cerulean translates to a screen HEX of #9BB7D4 and a CMYK print approximation of 27/14/0/17. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references Cerulean, the safest approach is to specify the 15-4020 TCX reference directly to your printer or textile supplier, and to verify with a printed proof on the target stock before committing to production.
Closest Solid Coated match
If you need to reproduce Cerulean with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 644 C (#9BB8D3), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 0.97. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2000?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2000 is Cerulean (15-4020). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2000. Its HEX approximation is #9BB7D4.
What is the HEX code for Cerulean?
Cerulean is a Pantone TCX reference (15-4020), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #9BB7D4 in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 155, 183, 212 and CMYK print approximation 27/14/0/17. These values are approximations and should not be treated as authoritative — the Pantone code is the actual specification.
What Pantone Solid Coated code is closest to Cerulean?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to Cerulean (15-4020) is 644 C at #9BB8D3, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 0.97. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use Cerulean in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #9BB7D4 — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 15-4020 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (644 C). For textile and fashion applications, the TCX code itself is the standard — no conversion is necessary if your manufacturer works with Pantone textile references.