How are the substitutes chosen?

By how alike the colours look: each DMC colour is compared with every other using CIEDE2000, the standard measure of colour difference, and the closest are listed first.

When should I substitute a DMC colour?

When a colour is out of stock, discontinued or you simply have something close in your stash. For a few stitches nobody will notice; for large areas, buy the original if you can.

Will a substitute look the same?

Colours marked "Almost the same" or "Very close" are hard to tell apart once stitched. "Close" and "Similar" are noticeable side by side, so use them for small areas.

Are the screen colours exact?

No screen shows thread colour perfectly. Check the real threads together in daylight before you swap a large area.

DMC Substitute Chart: Find the Closest DMC Color for Any Floss

Every DMC colour and its closest substitutes

DMC	Colour	Closest	Second	Third
150	Dusty Rose Ult Vy Dk	3803	3831	917
151	Dusty Rose Vry Lt	963	153	3779
152	Shell Pink Med Light	758	3688	760
153	Violet Very Light	151	211	3743
154	Grape Very Dark	3802	902	915
155	Blue Violet Med Dark	340	794	160
156	Blue Violet Med Lt	809	341	794
157	Cornflower Blue Vy Lt	341	3840	800
158	Cornflower Blu M V D	792	791	333
159	Blue Gray Light	800	157	3752
160	Blue Gray Medium	794	156	809
161	Blue Gray	793	3839	799
162	Blue Ultra Very Light	775	3841	3753
163	Celadon Green Md	505	3815	502
164	Forest Green Lt	3348	524	369
165	Moss Green Vy Lt	472	445	727
166	Moss Green Md Lt	733	581	3819
167	Yellow Beige V Dk	3863	420	3826
168	Pewter Very Light	415	453	928
169	Pewter Light	414	646	317
208	Lavender Very Dark	3835	3746	553
209	Lavender Dark	553	3836	155
210	Lavender Medium	3836	554	3608
211	Lavender Light	153	554	151
221	Shell Pink Vy Dk	777	315	902
223	Shell Pink Light	3778	961	962
224	Shell Pink Very Light	3771	758	3716
225	Shell Pink Ult Vy Lt	967	818	353
300	Mahogany Vy Dk	918	801	433
301	Mahogany Med	920	921	434
304	Red Medium	498	321	817
307	Lemon	973	445	3819
309	Rose Dark	779	844	413
310	Black	3371	938	3799
311	Wedgewood Ult VyDk	3750	803	3842
312	Baby Blue Very Dark	824	798	803
315	Antique Mauve Md Dk	3802	221	777
316	Antique Mauve Med	3687	961	3731
317	Pewter Gray	645	535	413
318	Steel Gray Lt	648	647	452
319	Pistachio Grn Vy Dk	3345	561	3818
320	Pistachio Green Med	988	3363	3347
321	Red	349	304	347
322	Baby Blue Dark	826	334	825
326	Rose Very Dark	3831	3721	321
327	Violet Dark	3837	3834	552
333	Blue Violet Very Dark	792	158	791
334	Baby Blue Medium	826	322	519
335	Rose	3801	891	3832
336	Navy Blue	823	820	796
340	Blue Violet Medium	156	155	160
341	Blue Violet Light	157	3840	156
347	Salmon Very Dark	817	321	349
349	Coral Dark	321	666	347
350	Coral Medium	666	351	3830
351	Coral	3328	961	891
352	Coral Light	956	3712	152
353	Peach	967	225	754
355	Terra Cotta Dark	3858	3777	347
356	Terra Cotta Med	3722	961	3830
367	Pistachio Green Dk	987	3363	320
368	Pistachio Green Lt	563	564	954
369	Pistachio Green Vy Lt	164	772	3348
370	Mustard Medium	371	832	833
371	Mustard	833	370	372
372	Mustard Lt	834	833	371
400	Mahogany Dark	975	918	919
402	Mahogany Vy Lt	722	3825	3854
407	Desert Sand Med	3773	3064	435
413	Pewter Gray Dark	844	3799	3021
414	Steel Gray Dk	169	646	318
415	Pearl Gray	168	3753	453
420	Hazelnut Brown Dk	3826	167	611
422	Hazelnut Brown Lt	612	3045	841
433	Brown Med	801	400	632
434	Brown Light	975	632	869
435	Brown Very Light	3773	3826	976
436	Tan	977	976	3828
437	Tan Light	3046	738	3827
444	Lemon Dark	973	726	725
445	Lemon Light	3819	165	307
451	Shell Gray Dark	646	3861	840
452	Shell Gray Med	648	647	318
453	Shell Gray Light	168	415	3033
469	Avocado Green	905	3363	988
470	Avocado Grn Lt	3012	906	581
471	Avocado Grn V Lt	3013	734	470
472	Avocado Grn U Lt	165	907	3819
498	Red Dark	816	304	817
500	Blue Green Vy Dk	3818	890	319
501	Blue Green Dark	3815	561	909
502	Blue Green	562	163	3814
503	Blue Green Med	992	3816	954
504	Blue Green Vy Lt	966	3813	164
505	Jade Green	910	163	911
517	Wedgewood Dark	824	3760	3842
518	Wedgewood Light	806	3810	995
519	Sky Blue	3755	807	826
520	Fern Green Dark	3051	3362	987
522	Fern Green	3053	3052	3022
523	Fern Green Lt	3053	522	3023
524	Fern Green Vy Lt	164	3348	368
535	Ash Gray Vy Lt	3787	645	317
543	Beige Brown Ult Vy Lt	739	3047	Ecru
550	Violet Very Dark	327	3834	3837
552	Violet Medium	3834	3837	327
553	Violet	3835	3607	208
554	Violet Light	778	3727	3609
561	Celadon Green VD	909	501	3346
562	Jade Medium	502	3816	912
563	Jade Light	954	3817	368
564	Jade Very Light	3813	3817	955
580	Moss Green Dk	731	732	469
581	Moss Green	733	470	3012
597	Turquoise	807	806	518
598	Turquoise Light	3766	3761	519
600	Cranberry Very Dark	601	3350	3804
601	Cranberry Dark	600	3804	3350
602	Cranberry Medium	3832	3801	3805
603	Cranberry	3706	604	3806
604	Cranberry Light	3706	894	776
605	Cranberry Very Light	3708	3689	604
606	Orange-Red Bright	608	720	946
608	Burnt Orange Bright	947	720	721
610	Drab Brown Dk	3790	3781	869
611	Drab Brown	840	3862	3863
612	Drab Brown Lt	422	841	3045
613	Drab Brown V Lt	3782	842	3046
632	Desert Sand Ult Vy Dk	434	433	869
640	Beige Gray Vy Dk	830	646	829
642	Beige Gray Dark	3023	841	3022
644	Beige Gray Med	822	3033	Ecru
645	Beaver Gray Vy Dk	3787	317	535
646	Beaver Gray Dk	451	169	640
647	Beaver Gray Med	648	3023	452
648	Beaver Gray Lt	452	647	318
666	Bright Red	349	321	350
676	Old Gold Lt	3822	738	834
677	Old Gold Vy Lt	3078	3823	Ecru
680	Old Gold Dark	3829	783	3852
699	Green	3345	700	319
700	Green Bright	699	3346	3345
701	Green Light	905	702	904
702	Kelly Green	703	701	906
703	Chartreuse	906	470	702
704	Chartreuse Bright	907	166	906
712	Cream	746	3865	3866
718	Plum	917	552	3803
720	Orange Spice Dark	946	900	608
721	Orange Spice Med	947	922	608
722	Orange Spice Light	402	947	721
725	Topaz Med Lt	726	742	743
726	Topaz Light	444	725	743
727	Topaz Vy Lt	745	744	3822
728	Topaz	3820	3827	834
729	Old Gold Medium	3852	3820	832
730	Olive Green V Dk	731	732	580
731	Olive Green Dk	732	580	730
732	Olive Green	731	580	730
733	Olive Green Md	581	734	3012
734	Olive Green Lt	3013	733	372
738	Tan Very Light	3855	676	437
739	Tan Ult Vy Lt	543	3047	677
740	Tangerine	970	971	3853
741	Tangerine Med	3853	970	740
742	Tangerine Light	972	725	728
743	Yellow Med	3821	726	725
744	Yellow Pale	3822	745	727
745	Yellow Pale Light	727	3822	744
746	Off White	712	3865	3823
747	Peacock Blue Vy Lt	3756	775	162
754	Peach Light	3824	353	3779
758	Terra Cotta Vy Lt	3341	152	3771
760	Salmon	957	3326	3688
761	Salmon Light	3779	3689	3716
762	Pearl Gray Vy Lt	3072	3024	White
772	Yellow Green Vy Lt	369	3823	164
775	Baby Blue Very Light	162	3841	3756
776	Pink Medium	894	3326	604
777	Raspberry Very Dark	221	902	3803
778	Antique Mauve Vy Lt	3727	3354	3688
779	Cocoa Dark	309	3860	838
780	Topaz Ultra Vy Dk	781	420	869
781	Topaz Very Dark	782	780	3826
782	Topaz Dark	781	3826	167
783	Topaz Medium	3852	680	729
791	Cornflower Blue V D	158	333	792
792	Cornflower Blue Dark	158	3807	333
793	Cornflower Blue Med	161	3838	3839
794	Cornflower Blue Light	160	809	156
796	Royal Blue Dark	797	820	336
797	Royal Blue	796	336	820
798	Delft Blue Dark	312	824	3838
799	Delft Blue Medium	3839	931	322
800	Delft Blue Pale	157	3752	159
801	Coffee Brown Dk	433	300	898
803	Baby Blue Ult Vy Dk	312	930	824
806	Peacock Blue Dark	3810	518	995
807	Peacock Blue	597	519	3844
809	Delft Blue	156	794	160
813	Blue Light	3755	3325	932
814	Garnet Dark	815	3685	816
815	Garnet Medium	814	816	3685
816	Garnet	815	498	814
817	Coral Red Very Dark	347	304	498
818	Baby Pink	967	225	3713
819	Baby Pink Light	3770	3774	948
820	Royal Blue Very Dark	796	336	823
822	Beige Gray Light	Ecru	644	3033
823	Navy Blue Dark	939	336	820
824	Blue Very Dark	312	3842	798
825	Blue Dark	3760	322	517
826	Blue Medium	334	322	519
827	Blue Very Light	3325	3841	3761
828	Sky Blue Vy Lt	3811	3761	827
829	Golden Olive Vy Dk	830	3862	3790
830	Golden Olive Dk	829	3862	640
831	Golden Olive Md	370	832	3045
832	Golden Olive	370	833	3852
833	Golden Olive Lt	371	370	372
834	Golden Olive Vy Lt	372	676	833
838	Beige Brown Vy Dk	839	3031	3781
839	Beige Brown Dk	3781	838	610
840	Beige Brown Med	611	3863	167
841	Beige Brown Lt	612	3032	422
842	Beige Brown Vy Lt	3782	3864	613
844	Beaver Gray Ult Dk	3799	413	3021
869	Hazelnut Brown V Dk	610	434	632
890	Pistachio Grn Ult V D	500	3818	319
891	Carnation Dark	335	3801	899
892	Carnation Medium	3705	899	3833
893	Carnation Light	3833	3733	3806
894	Carnation Very Light	776	3326	604
895	Hunter Green Vy Dk	3345	699	319
898	Coffee Brown Vy Dk	938	801	3031
899	Rose Medium	892	3705	3833
900	Burnt Orange Dark	921	720	946
902	Garnet Very Dark	3685	777	221
904	Parrot Green V Dk	937	905	469
905	Parrot Green Dk	469	701	904
906	Parrot Green Md	703	470	702
907	Parrot Green Lt	3819	704	472
909	Emerald Green Vy Dk	561	501	910
910	Emerald Green Dark	505	909	163
911	Emerald Green Med	912	505	562
912	Emerald Green Lt	911	562	3816
913	Nile Green Med	3816	954	562
915	Plum Dark	917	718	3685
917	Plum Medium	718	915	150
918	Red-Copper Dark	300	400	433
919	Red-Copper	920	400	975
920	Copper Med	301	919	975
921	Copper	900	301	3776
922	Copper Light	946	3776	971
924	Gray Green Vy Dark	3808	3768	317
926	Gray Green Med	598	927	932
927	Gray Green Light	3752	168	928
928	Gray Green Vy Lt	3072	3753	762
930	Antique Blue Dark	803	3750	312
931	Antique Blue Medium	3839	799	322
932	Antique Blue Light	3755	813	3840
934	Avocado Grn Black	935	986	936
935	Avocado Green Dk	936	986	934
936	Avocado Grn V Dk	935	986	3362
937	Avocado Green Md	987	904	3362
938	Coffee Brown Ult Dk	898	3371	3031
939	Navy Blue Very Dark	823	336	820
943	Green Bright Md	3812	3814	3850
945	Tawny	3856	951	950
946	Burnt Orange Med	720	922	900
947	Burnt Orange	721	608	722
948	Peach Very Light	3774	3770	951
950	Desert Sand Light	951	3774	945
951	Tawny Light	948	950	945
954	Nile Green	563	3817	368
955	Nile Green Light	564	563	3813
956	Geranium	352	3712	962
957	Geranium Pale	3716	760	3326
958	Sea Green Dark	3851	3849	959
959	Sea Green Med	958	3849	3851
961	Dusty Rose Dark	3687	3328	3722
962	Dusty Rose Medium	3712	956	352
963	Dusty Rose Ult Vy Lt	3779	151	3713
964	Sea Green Light	3811	3813	504
966	Jade Ultra Vy Lt	3813	504	564
967	Apricot Very Light	225	818	353
970	Pumpkin Light	740	971	3853
971	Pumpkin	970	740	922
972	Canary Deep	742	725	741
973	Canary Bright	444	307	726
975	Golden Brown Dk	400	434	920
976	Golden Brown Med	436	3776	435
977	Golden Brown Light	436	3854	3853
986	Forest Green Vy Dk	935	936	890
987	Forest Green Dk	367	3362	937
988	Forest Green Med	320	3347	3363
989	Forest Green	3364	3053	522
991	Aquamarine Dk	3847	3850	3814
992	Aquamarine Lt	3849	503	3851
993	Aquamarine Vy Lt	3817	992	503
995	Electric Blue Dark	518	806	3760
996	Electric Blue Medium	3843	519	807
3011	Khaki Green Dk	3052	3364	3363
3012	Khaki Green Md	470	581	733
3013	Khaki Green Lt	734	471	3012
3021	Brown Gray Vy Dk	844	3787	3799
3022	Brown Gray Med	522	3052	3053
3023	Brown Gray Light	647	648	3032
3024	Brown Gray Vy Lt	762	3072	3865
3031	Mocha Brown Vy Dk	838	3021	839
3032	Mocha Brown Med	841	647	612
3033	Mocha Brown Vy Lt	644	3047	822
3041	Antique Violet Medium	3835	3726	316
3042	Antique Violet Light	3836	3727	778
3045	Yellow Beige Dk	612	3828	422
3046	Yellow Beige Md	842	613	3864
3047	Yellow Beige Lt	543	3033	739
3051	Green Gray Dk	520	3362	987
3052	Green Gray Md	3364	3011	522
3053	Green Gray	522	523	989
3064	Desert Sand	407	3859	3828
3072	Beaver Gray Vy Lt	762	3024	928
3078	Golden Yellow Vy Lt	677	3823	727
3325	Baby Blue Light	827	3841	813
3326	Rose Light	776	894	604
3328	Salmon Dark	351	961	3687
3340	Apricot Med	3778	3712	947
3341	Apricot	758	3771	352
3345	Hunter Green Dk	895	699	319
3346	Hunter Green	561	987	319
3347	Yellow Green Med	988	3364	320
3348	Yellow Green Lt	164	524	369
3350	Dusty Rose Ultra Dark	600	601	3803
3354	Dusty Rose Light	3688	3727	760
3362	Pine Green Dk	3051	520	987
3363	Pine Green Md	988	320	367
3364	Pine Green	3052	3347	988
3371	Black Brown	938	310	898
3607	Plum Light	3804	601	553
3608	Plum Very Light	3609	603	3806
3609	Plum Ultra Light	3608	603	554
3685	Mauve Very Dark	902	815	814
3687	Mauve	961	3722	3328
3688	Mauve Medium	3354	760	3727
3689	Mauve Light	3716	761	957
3705	Melon Dark	892	899	3833
3706	Melon Medium	604	776	894
3708	Melon Light	605	761	3689
3712	Salmon Medium	962	956	352
3713	Salmon Very Light	818	963	967
3716	Dusty Rose Med Vy Lt	3689	957	761
3721	Shell Pink Dark	326	3831	221
3722	Shell Pink Med	356	3687	961
3726	Antique Mauve Dark	3721	315	3041
3727	Antique Mauve Light	778	3354	3688
3731	Dusty Rose Very Dark	3832	602	335
3733	Dusty Rose	3833	893	3806
3740	Antique Violet Dark	315	3860	3802
3743	Antique Violet Vy Lt	153	453	415
3746	Blue Violet Dark	3807	208	161
3747	Blue Violet Vy Lt	159	157	800
3750	Antique Blue Very Dk	930	311	803
3752	Antique Blue Very Lt	800	3841	159
3753	Antique Blue Ult Vy Lt	928	3072	162
3755	Baby Blue	932	813	519
3756	Baby Blue Ult Vy Lt	747	775	162
3760	Wedgewood Med	825	517	518
3761	Sky Blue Light	3766	3811	828
3765	Peacock Blue Vy Dk	3809	3810	517
3766	Peacock Blue Light	598	3761	3811
3768	Gray Green Dark	3809	924	3765
3770	Tawny Vy Light	948	3774	819
3771	Terra Cotta Ult Vy Lt	224	758	754
3772	Desert Sand Vy Dk	3773	420	434
3773	Desert Sand Dark	435	407	3772
3774	Desert Sand Vy Lt	948	3770	3033
3776	Mahogany Light	922	976	435
3777	Terra Cotta Vy Dk	355	3857	816
3778	Terra Cotta Light	223	962	3340
3779	Rosewood Ult Vy Lt	761	963	3824
3781	Mocha Brown Dk	839	610	838
3782	Mocha Brown Lt	842	613	3864
3787	Brown Gray Dark	535	645	3021
3790	Beige Gray Ult Dk	610	3862	645
3799	Pewter Gray Vy Dk	844	3021	413
3801	Melon Very Dark	3832	335	602
3802	Antique Mauve Vy Dk	315	221	3740
3803	Mauve Dark	150	3831	3350
3804	Cyclamen Pink Dark	601	600	602
3805	Cyclamen Pink	602	3731	3804
3806	Cyclamen Pink Light	893	3733	3833
3807	Cornflower Blue	792	3838	3746
3808	Turquoise Ult Vy Dk	3809	3842	924
3809	Turquoise Vy Dark	3765	3810	3808
3810	Turquoise Dark	806	518	3848
3811	Turquoise Very Light	828	3761	3766
3812	Sea Green Vy Dk	943	3850	3814
3813	Blue Green Lt	966	564	504
3814	Aquamarine	943	3850	3812
3815	Celadon Green Dk	501	163	505
3816	Celadon Green	913	562	503
3817	Celadon Green Lt	564	563	993
3818	Emerald Grn Ult V Dk	500	319	561
3819	Moss Green Lt	907	445	307
3820	Straw Dark	728	729	834
3821	Straw	743	3822	726
3822	Straw Light	745	744	676
3823	Yellow Ultra Pale	746	677	3078
3824	Apricot Light	754	353	3779
3825	Pumpkin Pale	402	3856	3771
3826	Golden Brown	420	435	167
3827	Golden Brown Pale	3854	728	437
3828	Hazelnut Brown	3045	3863	612
3829	Old Gold Vy Dark	680	782	783
3830	Terra Cotta	356	347	3722
3831	Raspberry Dark	326	3803	304
3832	Raspberry Medium	3801	602	335
3833	Raspberry Light	3733	893	3705
3834	Grape Dark	552	3837	327
3835	Grape Medium	553	208	3041
3836	Grape Light	210	3042	209
3837	Lavender Ultra Dark	327	552	3834
3838	Lavender Blue Dark	798	793	3807
3839	Lavender Blue Med	799	931	794
3840	Lavender Blue Light	157	341	800
3841	Baby Blue Pale	162	3752	3325
3842	Wedgewood Vry Dk	824	517	312
3843	Electric Blue	995	996	597
3844	Turquoise Bright Dark	3845	807	597
3845	Turquoise Bright Med	3844	3846	959
3846	Turquoise Bright Light	3845	959	964
3847	Teal Green Dark	3850	991	3812
3848	Teal Green Med	3810	3812	3814
3849	Teal Green Light	3851	958	992
3850	Green Bright Dk	3847	3812	3814
3851	Green Bright Lt	3849	958	992
3852	Straw Very Dark	729	783	832
3853	Autumn Gold Dk	970	740	977
3854	Autumn Gold Med	3827	977	728
3855	Autumn Gold Lt	738	3822	676
3856	Mahogany Ult Vy Lt	945	951	950
3857	Rosewood Dark	3777	814	815
3858	Rosewood Med	355	3721	221
3859	Rosewood Light	3064	3861	223
3860	Cocoa	779	3740	632
3861	Cocoa Light	3859	451	3042
3862	Mocha Beige Dark	611	3790	840
3863	Mocha Beige Med	840	167	3828
3864	Mocha Beige Light	842	3782	3046
3865	Winter White	3866	White	712
3866	Mocha Brn Ult Vy Lt	3865	White	712
B5200	Snow White	White	3865	3866
Ecru	Ecru	822	712	543
White	White	3865	B5200	3866

See every colour with its name on the DMC color chart, or turn a photo into a pattern of real DMC colours with the cross stitch pattern maker.

DMC substitute chart

DMC 321

Closest DMC colours

Every DMC colour and its closest substitutes

Questions