Looking for color by Hex, RGB, CMYK, or Lab?

Color Image

Actual color may vary from on-screen representation. Please view a physical color swatch or material sample to confirm your color choice prior to purchase.

Fast Shipping

70% of Orders Ship within 3 Business Days.

Ready to purchase? Select your options in the 4 steps below.

Step 1: Select Paint Type / Application

Spray, OEM, Bottles and Pens

House and Wall Paint

Epoxy, Urethane, and Colorant Concentrate


PMS 168 U is a Pantone Matching System color specified as part of the Pantone PMS collection and commonly referenced in brand and marketing contexts. It conveys a dense, earthy, weighty, subdued, and traditional visual character that reads as serious and grounded rather than decorative.

The color appears very dark, with a low Light Reflectance Value of 5.84. It presents a warm overall tendency, moderate-to-strong saturation for such a dark value, and a red-brown undertone with subtle orange influence.

PMS 168 U works well for brand-driven elements where depth and visual weight are desired, such as signage components, display structures, or accent panels. Because of its darkness and saturation, it may require careful surface preparation and sufficient film build to avoid uneven appearance, especially over lighter or high-contrast substrates.

Finish and lighting can significantly affect how much red warmth is perceived, so evaluating a physical sample under intended conditions can help confirm appearance expectations.

Similar colors:
PMS 167 U: slightly lighter and redder, with less visual depth.
PMS 469 U: darker and more neutral, with reduced red warmth.
PMS 174 U: warmer and more orange-leaning, with higher perceived brightness.

Product Data

About Pantone and MyPerfectColor

MyPerfectColor is the official licensee of Pantone and authorized to reproduce the Pantone™ PMS 168 U color in spray paint and other paints.

MyPerfectColor helps marketing professionals turn graphic designs into physical reality. Whether you are a manufacturer, entrepreneur, industrial designer, prototyper/modeler, marketer, agency, printer, retailer, sign manufacturer, exhibit fabricator or architect, MyPerfectColor will help you nail the PMS 168 U color and produce outstanding results.

MyPerfectColor matches the Pantone PMS 168 U color based on Pantone color publications. The PMS 168 U color shown on this website are computer video simulations of the PANTONE PMS 168 U Color and may not match PANTONE®-identified Color standards. Refer to current PANTONE Publications to obtain accurate color.

The Pantone PMS 168 U color may vary from the PANTONE Color Standards based on lighting conditions, angle of view and/or due to differences in pigments, manufacturing process, substrate and/or limitations in the color capability of the paint. Refer to current PANTONE Publications to obtain accurate color.

PANTONE® and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC. Portions © Pantone LLC, 2019. Produced under License Agreement between MyPerfectColor.com and Pantone LLC.

Pantone

Frequently Asked Questions About Pantone™ PMS 168 U

How should I compare Pantone PMS 168 U paint to my Pantone color book?

Pantone PMS 168 U in a Pantone book is a printed reference standard, not a promise of how paint will look on every surface. When PMS 168 U is reproduced as paint, appearance can change based on sheen, film build, and the substrate you apply it to.

Use the Pantone book to confirm you have the correct color target, then evaluate a physical paint sample on your actual material and under your real lighting. This is the most reliable way to judge whether the PMS 168 U paint meets your brand or project expectations.

Where can I find the SDS for paint made to Pantone PMS 168 U?

The Safety Data Sheet is tied to the specific paint product and chemistry, not to the Pantone PMS 168 U color itself. The same color can be made in different paint types, each with its own SDS.

After you select the product format for PMS 168 U, look up the SDS in the SDS library for that product. If you need help confirming which SDS applies, identify the exact paint type you are ordering.

Why does the suffix in Pantone PMS 168 U matter when ordering paint?

Pantone codes can include suffixes or series designations that define the intended reference standard. PMS 168 U is different from other versions of the same number, and those differences matter for brand accuracy.

Before ordering, confirm that PMS 168 U is the exact code specified in your brand guidelines or project documentation. Ordering the wrong suffix can result in a color that is technically correct to Pantone, but incorrect for your application.

When should I order a sample of Pantone PMS 168 U before full production?

Sampling PMS 168 U is recommended for high visibility brand applications, large installations, or any project that requires formal color approval. Lighting, substrate color, and finish can all change how PMS 168 U is perceived.

A sample lets you verify coverage, uniformity, and visual match in real conditions before committing to a full order. This step helps reduce risk when brand consistency is critical.

How quickly will I receive my paint matched to Pantone PMS 168 U?
All paint is custom-made to order. While most orders ship within 48 hours, the lead-time for paint made to match Pantone PMS 168 U depends on the type of paint needed. Interior and exterior house paints usually ship within 1 to 3 business days, while custom spray paint typically takes 3-5 business days to ship. The transit time depends on your location and the shipping method you choose. If your need is immediate, select Expedited Production during checkout. Most expedited production orders ship within 24 hours on business days. Please contact MyPerfectColor if you are concerned about a specific deadline. We do our best to make sure you get your paint on time. Learn more about paint lead times at MyPerfectColor.
Can I use the Pantone PMS 168 U for touch up?

Unfortunately, no.

Some manufacturers specify Pantone colors as touch up for their products, but Pantone does not work well as a proxy for a touch-up solution (for a litany of reasons such as it doesn't include sheen and Pantone color tolerances are not tight enough for touch up). When we match Pantone colors we are matching to a swatch in a Pantone book - not to your product.

The only way we can provide a touch-up solution for your product is for you send us a part. We would use the part to create a touch-up grade match. Unfortunately, there isn't an effective way to 'spec' the color well enough to produce a touch up without the part.

Read more about using Pantone for touch-up.

Learn more about our paint color matching service.

How do I buy paint in the Pantone PMS 168 U?
Many types of paint are available for Pantone PMS 168 U with no minimum order quantities. MyPerfectColor offers spray paint, paint pens, touch up bottles, water-based acrylics, epoxies, urethanes and a variety of other paints. Select the Paint Type button above to get started. Learn more about buying paint at MyPerfectColor.
How much area will one spray can cover? And what is Pantone PMS 168 U spray paint made of?

To make spray paint matched to Pantone PMS 168 U. MyPerfectColor uses an acrylic enamel which is a fast-drying durable coating suitable for interior or exterior use. MyPerfectColor custom spray paint enables you to conveniently achieve a professional spray-smooth finish in any color in any sheen. It sticks well to most surfaces including metal, plastics, powder-coatings, cabinets and primed or previously painted wood.

The 11oz spray will cover about 20 square feet per coat. Keep in mind that it is difficult to gauge how much spray you'll need as it is highly dependent on how it is applied. It is better to have too much than run short.

How do I get the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for paint matched to Pantone PMS 168 U?
The Pantone PMS 168 U is the color and the SDS is based on the type of paint used to make the color. You can find Safety Data Sheets here for our most popular products.
Do I need a primer for Pantone PMS 168 U?
The need for primer for Pantone PMS 168 U depends on the type of paint, the substrate being painted and where it will be located. See our Primer Selection Table to see what primer you might need and learn more about when you might need a primer. Most people don't use a primer for a touch up paint application, but a primer may improve adhesion and is typically recommended for exterior applications.
How do I convert PMS 168 U to a different color from another paint company?

While MyPerfectColor can provide PMS 168 U in paint, we don't provide any crossover information. We've found that every paint company offers its own unique selection of colors and rarely does a color have an exact equivalent in another company's color collection, especially for a color collection like Pantone which is designed for bright colors and inks.