Pantone Color of the Year 2010
The Pantone Color of the Year 2010 is Turquoise (15-5519). Its HEX approximation is #45B5AA. A soothing blue-green that combined escape and compassion — a color of calm in a still-recovering world.
About Turquoise
A soothing blue-green that combined escape and compassion — a color of calm in a still-recovering world.
Pantone announced Turquoise as its Color of the Year 2010 in December 2009, 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, Turquoise is a TCX reference (15-5519) rather than a Solid Coated (C) code, reflecting the program's textile-focused selection framework.
In practical design terms, Turquoise translates to a screen HEX of #45B5AA and a CMYK print approximation of 62/0/6/29. The precise printed result depends on paper, ink, and proof conditions. For brand-critical work that references Turquoise, the safest approach is to specify the 15-5519 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 Turquoise with a Solid Coated (C) reference, the closest match in our catalog is 326 C (#00B2A9), with a perceptual difference of ΔE 2000 = 2.83. This is a very close match — suitable for most print reproduction needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pantone Color of the Year 2010?
The Pantone Color of the Year 2010 is Turquoise (15-5519). Pantone announced it as the shade that its Color of the Year Committee believed would best reflect the cultural mood and design trends of 2010. Its HEX approximation is #45B5AA.
What is the HEX code for Turquoise?
Turquoise is a Pantone TCX reference (15-5519), not a HEX color. Its closest screen approximation is #45B5AA in the sRGB color space, with RGB channels 69, 181, 170 and CMYK print approximation 62/0/6/29. 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 Turquoise?
The closest match in our Solid Coated catalog to Turquoise (15-5519) is 326 C at #00B2A9, with a perceptual difference of approximately ΔE 2000 = 2.83. This is a very close match and is likely suitable for print reproduction.
How do I use Turquoise in my design?
For digital design, use the HEX value #45B5AA — it will render correctly across browsers. For print design, specify the Pantone TCX reference 15-5519 to your printer, or convert to the closest Solid Coated (C) code (326 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.