Embroidery Thread Color Converter
Find the closest matching thread number in any brand — Isacord, Madeira, Sulky, Marathon, Gunold, Robison-Anton, Brother and more — plus Pantone and HEX equivalents.
- 75 thread brands
- 21,691 colors
- CIEDE2000 color matching
- Free, no sign-up
Brands to compare against
Pick a brand above, then click any color in the list.
Or try an example: Isacord 1301 Paprika · Madeira Rayon 1147 · Gunold 61021 · HEX #1e3a8a · Pantone 185
Popular conversion charts
All charts →How to convert thread colors between brands
- Choose the brand your design uses. Digitized designs usually list one brand's numbers — often Isacord, Madeira or Brother.
- Click the color (or type its number). The converter looks up the thread's published RGB value.
- Read the matches. For every brand you stock, you get the closest color with a match rating and two alternatives, plus the nearest Pantone.
What the match ratings mean
| Near identical | ΔE00 ≤ 1.0 — hard to tell apart side by side |
| Very close | ΔE00 ≤ 2.3 — a safe substitute in most work |
| Close | ΔE00 ≤ 5.0 — same family, visible on close inspection |
| Approximate | ΔE00 ≤ 10 — similar tone only |
| Poor match | ΔE00 > 10 — that brand has no close color |
Matches are computed in the CIELAB color space with the CIEDE2000 formula, the industry standard for how different two colors look to the human eye. Thread also differs in sheen (rayon is glossier than polyester), weight and dye lot, so treat results as a shortlist and confirm with a physical color card.
Brand color charts
All 75 brands →Frequently asked questions
Is there an official Isacord to Madeira conversion chart?
Manufacturers publish their own cross-reference charts, but they cover only a few brands. ThreadMatch computes matches for every brand pair from published color values so you can convert between any two brands.
How accurate are the thread color matches?
Matches are based on each brand's published screen RGB values and the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula. A rating of Very close or better is usually a safe substitute, but sheen and dye lot vary, so always check a physical thread card before a large order.
Can I convert a Pantone color to embroidery thread?
Yes. Use the By Pantone tab or the Pantone page to find the closest thread in any brand. Pantone values are sRGB approximations, not official Pantone data.