Pantone TCX 15-4020 - Cerulean
Pantone TCX 15-4020 (Cerulean) is a Textile Cotton eXtended color with a HEX approximation of #9BB7D4, RGB 155, 183, 212, and CMYK 27/14/0/17. It was selected by Pantone as its Color of the Year for 2000. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is 644 C (Delta E 0.97), and its closest TCX neighbor is 15-3919 (Serenity).
About TCX 15-4020
TCX (Textile Cotton eXtended) is Pantone's color system for apparel, textiles, and home furnishings. Every TCX code follows the format XX-YYYY: the first two digits encode lightness (11 is very light, 19 is very dark) and the four digits encode hue and chroma. TCX colors are printed on cotton fabric swatches, making them the reference standard for textile production - the same substrate that the finished product will use.
Like every TCX code, 15-4020 is defined by a physical cotton swatch in Pantone's FHI Color Guide, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #9BB7D4 is the most commonly-published translation, but physical TCX swatches are the only authoritative source. The full TCX library contains more than 2,300 colors; our reference covers 50 benchmark codes that include all 27 Color of the Year picks plus 21 additional FHI benchmarks.
Closest Pantone Solid Coated match
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to TCX 15-4020 is 644 C (#9BB8D3), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 0.97. This is a close match for a print-to-textile translation - verify against physical samples before production.
Closest TCX neighbors
These TCX codes are perceptually closest to 15-4020, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where TCX 15-4020 is used
TCX blues are the largest and most-specified chromatic family - denim, navy, cobalt, and sky blues dominate apparel and interior textiles. TCX 15-4020 is typically specified in denim, navy uniforms, tailored garments, upholstery, and bedding. Its blue tone makes it appropriate wherever a calm, technical, or nature-referencing palette is wanted. Before specifying TCX 15-4020 for a production run, verify against a physical TCX color swatch under the actual lighting conditions and fabric weave that will be used - the same code looks meaningfully different across substrates and finishes.
Frequently asked questions
What is TCX 15-4020 in HEX?
Pantone TCX 15-4020 (Cerulean) has a HEX approximation of #9BB7D4. This is a widely-published digital approximation - Pantone does not publish official hex values for TCX codes, since TCX is a physical fabric standard. Different published sources disagree by 2-5% for the same code. #9BB7D4 is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What is the closest Pantone Solid Coated match to TCX 15-4020?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to TCX 15-4020 is 644 C (#9BB8D3), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 0.97. This is close given that Solid Coated and TCX are different media - but for production work you should still verify against both the physical Solid Coated chip and the physical TCX swatch.
Why was TCX 15-4020 chosen as Pantone Color of the Year 2000?
Pantone selected TCX 15-4020 (Cerulean) as its Color of the Year for 2000. Each year, the Pantone Color Institute selects a shade it believes will influence the following year across fashion, interiors, graphic design, and packaging. The 2000 pick was part of Pantone's annual COTY program, which dates to 2000. The selection is documented in Pantone press materials for that year.
What NCS/RAL/etc. codes is TCX 15-4020 close to?
TCX and NCS and RAL are different systems that do not cross-reference officially. If you need TCX 15-4020 translated to one of those systems, use our <a href="/pantone-to-ncs/" class="text-accent hover:underline">Pantone to NCS converter</a> or <a href="/pantone-to-ral/" class="text-accent hover:underline">Pantone to RAL converter</a> with the Pantone Solid Coated equivalent (644 C) as the starting point. Remember that all cross-system matches are approximations, not production specifications.
Is TCX 15-4020 accurate enough for production use?
No. TCX codes on this site are digital approximations of the physical Pantone TCX standard, for design reference and browsing. For any production use - apparel manufacturing, upholstery, uniform sourcing - order the physical TCX swatch from Pantone (via the FHI Color Guide or Pantone Connect) and verify the color under the actual lighting conditions where the finished product will be seen. This is the only reliable approach.