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Anchor to DMC and DMC to Anchor conversion chart

Find the closest DMC match for any Anchor color, or the Anchor match for any DMC color — with match quality percentages and ranked alternatives.

446 Anchor and 489 DMC colors matched using perceptual color distance.

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Full Anchor to DMC conversion chart

446 color matches, ranked by match quality. Click any row for alternatives.

Code→CodeMatch
1→BLANCInterchangeable
2→BLANCInterchangeable
6→948Very close
8→776Very close
9→761Noticeable
10→352Very close
11→3705Very close
13→349Very close
19→349Interchangeable
20→3777Very close
22→3857Noticeable
23→225Interchangeable
24→963Interchangeable
25→151Interchangeable
26→3326Interchangeable
27→894Very close
28→892Interchangeable
29→3801Interchangeable
31→3708Very close
33→3706Very close
35→3705Interchangeable
36→761Interchangeable
38→892Very close
39→3328Very close
40→899Interchangeable
41→335Very close
42→349Very close
43→816Very close
44→221Very close
45→221Very close
46→350Interchangeable
47→349Interchangeable
48→818Very close
49→963Very close
50→151Interchangeable
52→3708Interchangeable
54→893Very close
55→3716Interchangeable
57→335Interchangeable
59→3831Very close
60→151Very close
62→962Interchangeable
63→602Very close
65→3831Interchangeable
66→3354Very close
68→3731Interchangeable
69→3831Interchangeable
70→814Interchangeable
72→814Very close
73→3713Very close
74→3326Very close
75→3326Interchangeable
76→3733Interchangeable
77→3731Interchangeable
78→3832Very close
85→3689Very close
86→3609Very close
87→3607Noticeable
88→3805Very close
89→3804Very close
90→153Very close
92→553Noticeable
94→34Interchangeable
95→3689Noticeable
96→153Very close
97→554Very close
98→209Very close
99→552Interchangeable
100→34Very close
101→327Interchangeable
102→550Very close
103→818Noticeable
108→211Very close
109→210Noticeable
110→28Noticeable
111→3837Noticeable
112→333Very close
117→3747Very close
118→30Very close
119→792Interchangeable
120→3753Very close
121→341Interchangeable
122→161Very close
123→158Very close
127→939Very close
128→775Very close
129→800Very close
130→800Very close
131→794Very close
132→3807Very close
133→797Interchangeable
134→796Interchangeable
136→794Very close
137→322Interchangeable
139→797Interchangeable
140→800Very close
142→334Interchangeable
143→825Very close
144→3753Very close
145→3840Interchangeable
146→799Very close
147→3807Very close
148→312Interchangeable
149→336Interchangeable
150→823Very close
152→939Very close
158→3756Very close
159→3753Very close
160→3753Very close
161→807Very close
162→826Interchangeable
164→312Interchangeable
167→828Very close
168→519Very close
169→3760Interchangeable
170→825Interchangeable
175→3840Interchangeable
176→156Very close
177→3807Interchangeable
178→158Interchangeable
185→3811Very close
186→964Very close
187→964Noticeable
188→3849Very close
189→3812Very close
203→13Interchangeable
204→13Very close
205→993Very close
206→504Very close
208→3817Very close
209→563Interchangeable
210→320Very close
211→367Very close
212→561Interchangeable
213→10Interchangeable
214→524Noticeable
215→503Very close
216→3816Very close
217→367Very close
218→319Very close
225→164Interchangeable
226→368Very close
227→912Very close
228→911Very close
229→700Very close
230→562Very close
231→453Very close
232→453Very close
233→3861Noticeable
234→01Very close
235→03Interchangeable
236→09Noticeable
238→703Very close
239→703Very close
240→369Very close
241→966Very close
242→966Very close
243→368Very close
244→320Very close
245→701Very close
246→986Interchangeable
253→15Interchangeable
254→15Interchangeable
255→907Very close
256→471Noticeable
257→989Interchangeable
258→988Interchangeable
259→14Noticeable
260→14Very close
261→524Very close
262→3363Interchangeable
263→935Very close
264→369Very close
265→3348Very close
266→471Very close
267→3347Very close
268→937Interchangeable
269→936Interchangeable
271→819Very close
273→3787Interchangeable
274→3072Very close
275→ECRUInterchangeable
276→543Very close
277→780Very close
278→12Very close
279→18Interchangeable
280→734Interchangeable
281→370Very close
288→727Interchangeable
289→727Interchangeable
290→726Very close
291→743Very close
292→3823Very close
293→745Very close
295→744Interchangeable
297→725Interchangeable
298→444Interchangeable
300→3823Very close
301→677Interchangeable
302→725Interchangeable
303→742Interchangeable
304→741Very close
305→3822Very close
306→728Interchangeable
307→783Very close
308→976Interchangeable
309→3826Very close
310→301Interchangeable
311→3855Interchangeable
313→742Noticeable
314→741Interchangeable
316→971Interchangeable
323→3825Interchangeable
324→740Interchangeable
326→720Interchangeable
328→3341Very close
329→970Very close
330→721Interchangeable
332→721Interchangeable
333→606Very close
334→606Interchangeable
335→606Interchangeable
336→754Interchangeable
337→3773Very close
338→922Very close
339→900Very close
340→349Very close
341→817Very close
342→25Noticeable
343→3752Interchangeable
347→3856Interchangeable
349→921Very close
351→918Very close
352→300Very close
355→301Very close
357→400Interchangeable
358→400Interchangeable
359→300Interchangeable
360→3857Very close
361→739Interchangeable
362→3856Interchangeable
363→3827Interchangeable
365→976Very close
366→739Interchangeable
367→3774Very close
368→437Interchangeable
369→3773Noticeable
370→301Very close
371→975Very close
372→738Very close
373→436Very close
374→436Very close
375→780Very close
376→950Very close
378→3864Very close
379→3863Very close
380→938Noticeable
381→938Noticeable
382→938Very close
386→822Very close
387→ECRUInterchangeable
388→3033Very close
390→3866Interchangeable
391→3033Interchangeable
392→3782Very close
393→07Noticeable
397→01Very close
398→01Very close
399→02Noticeable
400→04Noticeable
401→09Noticeable
403→310Interchangeable
410→3843Very close
433→519Noticeable
681→3011Very close
683→500Very close
778→543Interchangeable
779→597Noticeable
830→3866Very close
831→3033Very close
832→841Very close
842→3047Noticeable
843→372Very close
844→3012Interchangeable
845→3011Very close
846→936Very close
847→3072Very close
848→01Interchangeable
849→168Very close
850→927Very close
851→3768Noticeable
852→822Very close
853→644Very close
854→613Very close
855→612Interchangeable
856→370Very close
858→524Noticeable
859→523Very close
860→522Very close
861→645Very close
862→934Interchangeable
868→754Interchangeable
869→3743Noticeable
870→3743Very close
871→3836Noticeable
872→3041Very close
873→3740Noticeable
874→676Very close
875→928Noticeable
876→503Very close
877→502Interchangeable
878→501Interchangeable
879→500Interchangeable
880→543Interchangeable
881→543Interchangeable
882→3771Interchangeable
883→3773Very close
884→921Very close
885→3033Very close
886→739Very close
887→738Very close
888→3828Very close
889→869Interchangeable
890→19Very close
891→676Very close
892→543Very close
893→225Very close
894→224Very close
895→760Very close
896→3722Very close
897→221Interchangeable
898→3045Very close
899→06Very close
900→3072Very close
901→436Interchangeable
903→3863Very close
904→3790Very close
905→3021Very close
906→433Interchangeable
907→729Interchangeable
914→3773Interchangeable
920→3752Very close
921→932Very close
922→414Interchangeable
923→3818Very close
924→732Very close
925→970Very close
926→3866Interchangeable
928→747Very close
933→3866Interchangeable
936→400Very close
939→30Very close
940→3807Interchangeable
941→792Very close
942→739Interchangeable
943→437Very close
944→434Interchangeable
945→738Very close
956→3033Very close
968→225Interchangeable
969→778Very close
970→223Very close
972→3350Interchangeable
975→775Very close
976→3752Interchangeable
977→3840Very close
978→334Very close
979→798Very close
1001→977Very close
1002→3827Interchangeable
1003→402Very close
1004→900Very close
1005→22Interchangeable
1006→817Interchangeable
1007→3859Interchangeable
1008→3779Very close
1009→3770Interchangeable
1010→739Very close
1011→543Very close
1012→948Interchangeable
1013→3778Noticeable
1014→817Interchangeable
1015→22Interchangeable
1016→778Very close
1017→152Very close
1018→223Very close
1019→3721Interchangeable
1020→818Very close
1021→3713Very close
1022→224Very close
1023→760Interchangeable
1024→3712Interchangeable
1025→349Interchangeable
1026→819Very close
1027→223Very close
1028→777Interchangeable
1029→777Interchangeable
1030→340Very close
1031→3756Very close
1032→775Very close
1033→3753Interchangeable
1034→932Interchangeable
1035→317Very close
1036→803Very close
1037→3865Noticeable
1038→3761Very close
1039→827Very close
1040→648Very close
1041→844Interchangeable
1042→10Very close
1043→369Very close
1044→895Very close
1045→3827Very close
1046→976Interchangeable
1047→3856Very close
1048→922Very close
1049→3776Interchangeable
1050→801Interchangeable
1060→775Very close
1062→162Very close
1064→3766Very close
1066→806Very close
1068→3809Very close
1070→964Very close
1072→964Noticeable
1074→3849Noticeable
1076→3812Very close
1080→543Very close
1082→842Very close
1084→841Interchangeable
1085→3045Very close
1086→3790Very close
1088→938Interchangeable
1089→996Noticeable
1090→3761Noticeable
4146→3774Interchangeable
5975→350Very close
8581→3022Very close
9046→350Very close
9159→162Interchangeable
9575→3771Very close
1092→747Very close
1094→3689Interchangeable
1096→01Very close
1098→350Interchangeable
1201→151Interchangeable

Full DMC to Anchor conversion chart

489 color matches, ranked by match quality. Click any row for alternatives.

Code→CodeMatch
B5200→2Very close
BLANC→2Interchangeable
ECRU→275Interchangeable
01→848Interchangeable
02→849Very close
03→235Interchangeable
04→400Noticeable
05→899Very close
06→899Very close
07→393Noticeable
08→904Noticeable
09→236Noticeable
10→213Interchangeable
11→278Very close
12→278Very close
13→203Interchangeable
14→264Very close
15→253Interchangeable
16→265Very close
17→279Very close
18→279Interchangeable
19→890Very close
20→778Interchangeable
21→1007Very close
22→1005Interchangeable
23→271Noticeable
24→342Noticeable
25→342Noticeable
26→108Very close
27→234Very close
28→1030Noticeable
29→123Noticeable
30→118Very close
31→122Very close
32→122Very close
33→99Very close
34→94Interchangeable
35→101Noticeable
150→972Very close
151→1094Interchangeable
152→1017Very close
153→96Very close
154→873Noticeable
155→1030Noticeable
156→176Very close
157→175Interchangeable
158→178Interchangeable
159→121Very close
160→978Noticeable
161→122Very close
162→9159Interchangeable
163→211Very close
164→225Interchangeable
165→278Very close
166→280Noticeable
167→898Noticeable
168→849Very close
169→921No real match
208→99Noticeable
209→98Very close
210→109Noticeable
211→108Very close
221→897Interchangeable
223→1018Very close
224→894Very close
225→23Interchangeable
300→359Interchangeable
301→310Interchangeable
304→43Very close
307→290Very close
309→69Interchangeable
310→403Interchangeable
311→149Very close
312→164Interchangeable
315→1019Noticeable
316→1018Noticeable
317→1035Very close
318→921Noticeable
319→218Very close
320→210Very close
321→1006Interchangeable
322→137Interchangeable
326→65Interchangeable
327→101Interchangeable
333→112Very close
334→142Interchangeable
335→57Interchangeable
336→149Interchangeable
340→1030Very close
341→121Interchangeable
347→65Interchangeable
349→47Interchangeable
350→46Interchangeable
351→35Very close
352→10Very close
353→8Very close
355→43Very close
356→884Very close
367→211Very close
368→243Very close
369→240Very close
370→856Very close
371→855Very close
372→843Very close
400→358Interchangeable
402→323Very close
407→1007Very close
413→1041Noticeable
414→922Interchangeable
415→343Very close
420→375Very close
422→943Very close
433→906Interchangeable
434→944Interchangeable
435→365Very close
436→901Interchangeable
437→368Interchangeable
444→298Interchangeable
445→288Noticeable
451→233Noticeable
452→233Noticeable
453→231Very close
469→268Very close
470→267Very close
471→266Very close
472→254Noticeable
498→43Very close
500→879Interchangeable
501→878Interchangeable
502→877Interchangeable
503→876Very close
505→923Very close
517→162Very close
518→169Noticeable
519→168Very close
520→263Very close
522→860Very close
523→859Very close
524→261Very close
535→1041Noticeable
543→881Interchangeable
550→102Very close
552→99Interchangeable
553→92Noticeable
554→97Very close
561→212Interchangeable
562→230Very close
563→209Interchangeable
564→203Very close
580→924Noticeable
581→267Noticeable
597→779Noticeable
598→1062Noticeable
600→972Very close
601→78Very close
602→63Very close
603→62Very close
604→86Noticeable
605→55Very close
606→334Interchangeable
608→332Very close
610→904Very close
611→904Noticeable
612→855Interchangeable
613→854Very close
632→936Very close
640→856Noticeable
642→1085Noticeable
644→853Very close
645→861Very close
646→681No real match
647→8581Very close
648→1040Very close
666→47Interchangeable
676→891Very close
677→301Interchangeable
680→888Noticeable
699→923Very close
700→229Very close
701→229Very close
702→258Noticeable
703→238Very close
704→256Noticeable
712→275Interchangeable
718→89Noticeable
720→326Interchangeable
721→332Interchangeable
722→324Very close
725→302Interchangeable
726→290Very close
727→288Interchangeable
728→306Interchangeable
729→907Interchangeable
730→845Noticeable
732→924Very close
733→843Noticeable
734→280Interchangeable
738→372Very close
739→366Interchangeable
740→324Interchangeable
741→314Interchangeable
742→303Interchangeable
743→298Very close
744→295Interchangeable
745→295Very close
746→292Very close
747→928Very close
754→336Interchangeable
758→9575Very close
760→1023Interchangeable
761→36Interchangeable
762→1096Noticeable
772→240Very close
775→9159Very close
777→1029Interchangeable
778→969Very close
779→1050Noticeable
780→944Very close
782→365Noticeable
783→307Very close
791→134Very close
792→119Interchangeable
793→122Very close
794→136Very close
796→134Interchangeable
797→139Interchangeable
798→137Interchangeable
799→146Very close
800→130Very close
801→1050Interchangeable
803→148Very close
807→977Very close
809→410Very close
813→977Very close
814→70Interchangeable
815→1028Interchangeable
816→43Very close
817→1006Interchangeable
818→1020Very close
819→271Very close
820→134Very close
822→386Very close
823→150Very close
824→164Interchangeable
825→170Interchangeable
826→162Interchangeable
827→1038Very close
828→167Very close
829→889Noticeable
830→889Noticeable
831→281Noticeable
832→855Noticeable
833→888Noticeable
834→280Noticeable
838→1088Very close
839→1050Noticeable
840→1086Noticeable
841→1084Interchangeable
842→1082Very close
844→1041Interchangeable
869→889Interchangeable
890→218Noticeable
891→35Very close
892→28Interchangeable
893→54Very close
894→27Very close
895→1044Very close
898→1088Very close
899→40Interchangeable
900→1004Very close
902→70Very close
904→245Noticeable
905→245Noticeable
906→257Noticeable
907→255Very close
909→923Noticeable
910→229Very close
911→228Very close
912→227Very close
913→205Noticeable
915→1029Noticeable
917→89Noticeable
918→351Very close
919→1015Very close
920→355Very close
921→1004Very close
922→1048Very close
924→683Noticeable
926→877No real match
927→850Very close
928→849Very close
930→1035Noticeable
931→922Noticeable
932→1034Interchangeable
934→862Interchangeable
935→263Very close
936→269Interchangeable
937→268Interchangeable
938→1088Interchangeable
939→127Very close
943→188Noticeable
945→336Very close
946→332Very close
947→332Interchangeable
948→1012Interchangeable
950→868Very close
951→361Very close
954→225Very close
955→203Noticeable
956→54Very close
957→52Very close
958→188Very close
959→1074Noticeable
961→57Interchangeable
962→62Interchangeable
963→24Interchangeable
964→186Very close
966→225Very close
967→868Very close
970→329Very close
972→303Interchangeable
973→291Very close
975→371Very close
976→1046Interchangeable
977→1001Very close
986→246Interchangeable
987→245Very close
988→258Interchangeable
989→257Interchangeable
991→212Noticeable
992→188Very close
993→205Very close
995→162Very close
996→410Noticeable
3011→845Very close
3012→844Interchangeable
3013→843Very close
3021→905Very close
3022→8581Very close
3023→859Very close
3024→899Very close
3031→905Very close
3032→855Noticeable
3033→391Interchangeable
3041→872Very close
3042→871Noticeable
3045→898Very close
3046→945Very close
3047→886Very close
3051→269Very close
3052→267Very close
3053→266Very close
3064→883Very close
3072→274Very close
3078→288Very close
3325→1038Very close
3326→26Interchangeable
3328→39Very close
3340→329Noticeable
3341→328Very close
3345→1044Very close
3346→268Very close
3347→267Very close
3348→265Very close
3350→972Interchangeable
3354→52Very close
3362→269Very close
3363→262Interchangeable
3364→266Very close
3371→403Noticeable
3607→88Very close
3608→97Noticeable
3609→86Very close
3685→1029Very close
3687→89Very close
3688→76Very close
3689→1094Interchangeable
3705→28Interchangeable
3706→40Very close
3708→52Interchangeable
3712→1024Interchangeable
3713→23Interchangeable
3716→55Interchangeable
3721→1019Interchangeable
3722→896Very close
3726→1019Noticeable
3727→1017Very close
3731→77Interchangeable
3733→76Interchangeable
3740→873Noticeable
3743→870Very close
3746→111Noticeable
3747→117Very close
3750→1036Very close
3752→976Interchangeable
3753→1033Interchangeable
3755→977Very close
3756→1031Very close
3760→169Interchangeable
3761→1038Very close
3765→1068Noticeable
3766→168Very close
3768→851Noticeable
3770→1009Interchangeable
3771→882Interchangeable
3772→379Noticeable
3774→4146Interchangeable
3776→1049Interchangeable
3777→43Very close
3778→1007Very close
3779→868Very close
3781→905Very close
3782→392Very close
3787→273Interchangeable
3790→904Very close
3799→1041Noticeable
3801→29Interchangeable
3802→873Noticeable
3803→1029Noticeable
3804→89Very close
3805→88Very close
3806→62Noticeable
3807→177Interchangeable
3808→1068Noticeable
3809→1068Very close
3810→1066No real match
3811→167Very close
3812→189Very close
3813→208Noticeable
3814→230Noticeable
3815→211Very close
3816→210Very close
3817→208Very close
3818→923Very close
3819→279Noticeable
3820→890Noticeable
3821→297Very close
3822→305Very close
3823→292Very close
3824→9575Very close
3825→323Interchangeable
3826→309Very close
3827→363Interchangeable
3828→888Very close
3829→374Noticeable
3830→1014Very close
3831→69Interchangeable
3832→77Very close
3833→57Very close
3834→873Noticeable
3835→94Noticeable
3836→871Noticeable
3837→99Noticeable
3838→137Very close
3839→142Very close
3840→145Interchangeable
3841→976Very close
3842→164Very close
3843→410Very close
3844→410No real match
3845→1089Noticeable
3846→433Noticeable
3847→212No real match
3848→189No real match
3849→188Very close
3850→230Noticeable
3851→205Noticeable
3852→907Very close
3853→1048Very close
3854→1002Very close
3855→311Interchangeable
3856→347Interchangeable
3857→360Very close
3858→936Very close
3859→1007Interchangeable
3860→1086Noticeable
3861→233Noticeable
3862→1086Noticeable
3863→903Very close
3864→378Very close
3865→2Very close
3866→926Interchangeable
504→206Very close
731→281Noticeable
776→36Interchangeable
781→365Noticeable
806→1066Very close
971→316Interchangeable
3773→914Interchangeable

Convert between DMC and Anchor thread codes. Each match includes a quality percentage based on perceptual color distance — so you can see how close the substitution actually is, not just which number to use.

Paste multiple codes for batch conversion. Browse alternatives when the best match isn't close enough.

How thread conversion works

DMC and Anchor use different numbering systems and slightly different dye formulas — a DMC 310 (Black) converts to Anchor 403, but not every conversion is a perfect match.

Some colors have near-exact equivalents. Others are approximate — close enough for most projects, but you might notice a slight shift in tone if you compare threads side by side. The converter shows you how close each match is so you can decide whether it works for your pattern.

Anchor to DMC conversion

The converter runs in both directions. Paste Anchor codes and it returns the closest DMC equivalents with the same match percentages and ranked alternatives.

Going Anchor → DMC is the easier direction, and it is worth knowing why. The DMC range here has 489 stranded cotton colors; the Anchor range has 446. Every Anchor shade has somewhere to land in the larger DMC range, so reverse conversions tend to score higher. Most European and UK patterns are written in Anchor codes while most online pattern libraries and thread charts default to DMC, which is why this is the direction stitchers outside North America run most often. In UK shops both brands are sold as stranded cotton, and the numbers on either shade card are the ones this converter takes.

Why conversions aren’t always exact

Thread manufacturers choose pigments independently. DMC 3371 (Black Brown) and its Anchor equivalent 382 look similar under most lighting, but hold them next to each other in bright daylight and you'll see a difference. For most cross stitch projects, the closest match is close enough. For projects where exact color matters — like matching an existing piece — consider buying both and comparing in person.

There is also a structural reason no conversion chart can be perfect: the two ranges are different sizes. With 489 DMC colors mapping onto 446 Anchor colors, the mapping cannot be one-to-one. Somewhere in the chart, two neighboring DMC shades have to share a single Anchor number. That is not an error in the conversion — it is arithmetic, and it is why a printed chart that lists one confident number per color is quietly lying to you.

Where those collisions land matters. They cluster in the ranges with the finest gradations: skin tones, grays, and the long blue and green families where DMC ships five or six steps between shades and Anchor ships four. Blacks, whites, and strong primaries convert almost perfectly, because there is only one place for them to go.

When no good match exists

If the best match comes back under about 75%, you have four options, roughly in order of how often they are the right call:

  1. Check the ranked alternatives first. The top result is the closest by perceptual distance, but the second or third option is sometimes better for your pattern — a slightly darker match can read more accurately than a slightly lighter one when the neighboring colors in the design are already light.
  2. Convert the neighbors too. A color that converts badly in isolation often converts fine as part of a gradient, because what the eye reads is the spacing between shades, not their absolute values. Remap the whole run and judge the result together.
  3. Blend two strands. One strand each of two adjacent Anchor colors sits between them and can close a gap no single skein covers. This works well for skin tones and sky gradients, less well for flat blocks of a single color where the blend reads as texture.
  4. Keep the original brand for that one color. Nothing requires a single-brand palette. If one shade in a forty-color pattern refuses to convert, buy that one skein in the original brand and convert the rest.

Substituting mid-project

Converting mid-project is riskier than converting before you start, and the reason is dye lots rather than brands. Every skein carries a dye lot number, and two skeins of the same color from different lots can differ slightly. Introduce a brand change on top of that and you are stacking two sources of variation in the same piece.

If you have to switch mid-project:

  • Change the color everywhere it appears, not just where you ran out. A single patch of substituted thread in a background is far more visible than a background stitched entirely in the substitute.
  • Start the substitute at a natural boundary — a motif edge, a border, a color block — rather than in the middle of an open field.
  • Buy enough to finish. Estimate the remaining stitches for that color with the thread usage calculator and add a skein. Coming back for a third lot of the same substitute is how a two-tone background happens.
  • Check the match in daylight before committing. Stitch a few crosses on scrap fabric next to a length of the original. Indoor lighting hides exactly the undertone shifts that bright daylight exposes.

Converting entire palettes

If you have a pattern designed for DMC and want to stitch it with Anchor thread (or vice versa), Stitchmate's palette remapping tool converts every color in your pattern with one click. The editor shows you the before and after so you can spot any conversions that need manual adjustment.

Have a pattern file? Open your PCStitch .pat, Pattern Maker .xsd, or OXS file and remap the entire palette in one click — no manual code lookup needed.

See also: DMC vs Anchor thread — which should you use?

Understanding match quality

Conversions are approximate — DMC and Anchor use different dyes, so even the "best" match may differ in undertone, saturation, or sheen. The match percentage tells you how close they actually are:

  • 93–100% — Virtually identical. Hard to tell apart even side-by-side.
  • 85–92% — Very close. Minor differences visible only in direct bright light.
  • 75–84% — Good match. Noticeable when compared directly, but works well in most projects.
  • 60–74% — Approximate. Worth checking alternatives for a closer option.
  • Below 60% — Significant difference. Check the alternatives — there may be a better option.

For color-critical work (skin tones, gradient blends), compare real skeins rather than relying on any conversion chart.

Related Guides & Tools

DMC Color Chart

Browse all 489 DMC embroidery floss colors with codes, names, and stash tracking.

Browse color chart

Anchor Color Chart

Browse all 446 Anchor stranded cotton colors with codes and equivalents.

Browse color chart

DMC ↔ Madeira Conversion

Convert thread codes between DMC and Madeira with match quality and alternatives.

Read guide

DMC vs Anchor Thread

How the two brands compare — dye lines, availability, and when to choose which.

Read guide

Photo to Cross Stitch

Turn a photo into a pattern with thread matching and FLOW stitchability score.

Try photo converter

Thread Conversion Chart

Every brand we hold — Madeira, Cosmo, hand-dyes, silks, wools, beads — in one converter.

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FAQ

Is there a perfect DMC to Anchor conversion chart?
No. DMC and Anchor use different dye formulations, so conversions are approximations. This tool shows match quality percentages based on perceptual color distance (CIEDE2000) so you can judge each substitution yourself.
How is the match percentage calculated?
We use CIEDE2000, the industry standard for perceptual color difference. It measures how different two colors appear to the human eye. Every match is rated in plain words: Interchangeable means you can’t tell the two apart on fabric, Very close shows only side by side, Noticeable is worth checking against the runner-ups, and No real match means the brand has no equivalent.
Can I convert an entire pattern's thread list at once?
Yes. Paste multiple codes (comma or newline separated) into the batch conversion field. You'll get a complete table with match quality for each color.
Why does my converted color look different in person?
Screen colors aren't thread colors. Monitor calibration, lighting, and the physical properties of thread all affect appearance — our color theory guide explains why screens and threads show color differently. For critical work, compare real skeins.

See how your photo converts

Cross stitch is a real commitment — real thread, real hours, real frustration if the pattern doesn't work. Stitchmate lets you see exactly what you're getting into before you buy the first skein.

Upload an image, adjust the settings, check the FLOW Score — about 30 seconds to know if it'll work. Everything up to PDF export is free, no account needed.

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