Pantone TCX 17-5104 - Ultimate Gray
Pantone TCX 17-5104 (Ultimate Gray) is a Textile Cotton eXtended color with a HEX approximation of #939597, RGB 147, 149, 151, and CMYK 3/1/0/41. It was selected by Pantone as its Color of the Year for 2021. Its closest Pantone Solid Coated match is Cool Gray 7 C (Delta E 1.30), and its closest TCX neighbor is 18-4005 (Driftwood).
About TCX 17-5104
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, 17-5104 is defined by a physical cotton swatch in Pantone's FHI Color Guide, not by a digital value. The HEX approximation #939597 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.
Paired with Illuminating
In 2021, Pantone selected two Colors of the Year - TCX 17-5104 (Ultimate Gray) and TCX 13-0647 (Illuminating). The pairing was intentional: the two colors together signaled the mood of the year. View the other color:
Closest Pantone Solid Coated match
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to TCX 17-5104 is Cool Gray 7 C (#97999B), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.30. 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 17-5104, sorted by Delta E 2000. Codes within the same family typically differ by Delta E 2-8 - siblings rather than duplicates.
Where TCX 17-5104 is used
TCX grays cover the full range from soft dove to deep charcoal and form the backbone of neutral textile palettes. TCX 17-5104 is typically specified in suits, tailored garments, upholstery, and industrial textiles. Its gray tone makes it appropriate wherever a neutral, classic, or foundational palette is wanted. Before specifying TCX 17-5104 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 17-5104 in HEX?
Pantone TCX 17-5104 (Ultimate Gray) has a HEX approximation of #939597. 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. #939597 is close to every commonly-cited reference.
What is the closest Pantone Solid Coated match to TCX 17-5104?
The closest Pantone Solid Coated color to TCX 17-5104 is Cool Gray 7 C (#97999B), with a perceptual difference of Delta E 2000 = 1.30. 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 17-5104 chosen as Pantone Color of the Year 2021?
Pantone selected TCX 17-5104 (Ultimate Gray) as its Color of the Year for 2021. Each year, the Pantone Color Institute selects a shade it believes will influence the following year across fashion, interiors, graphic design, and packaging. The 2021 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 17-5104 close to?
TCX and NCS and RAL are different systems that do not cross-reference officially. If you need TCX 17-5104 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 (Cool Gray 7 C) as the starting point. Remember that all cross-system matches are approximations, not production specifications.
Is TCX 17-5104 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.