By , director of the Dutch Colour Institute (SNKI) · Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026

Which NCS colour fan deck or design tool suits you?

The short answer

Daily work with every colour: NCS Index 2050. A fixed selection: Interior 84, Exterior 84 or Inspire 1058. Large samples: Box 2050 or Block 2050.

NCS has fan decks with 84 colours and tools with all 2050 standard colours. Which one you need depends on three questions: do you need every colour, how large should the samples be, and do you work on site or at a desk? Below you will find, per product, who it is intended for.

Three questions first

  1. 1All 2050 colours or a selection?If you specify colours for others, you need the full collection. If you mainly choose within one style or application, a selection is easier to navigate.
  2. 2Small or large sample?Small samples are handy for searching. To judge a colour next to a material or on a wall, a larger sample works better.
  3. 3On site or at a desk?A fan deck goes in your bag. An atlas, box or album stays in the office or studio.

Fan decks with the full collection

NCS Index 2050All 2050 standard colours on 233 pages, with 4 to 10 colours per page. Arranged by hue and nuance, with a separate section for white, grey and black. Samples of 22 mm, 26 mm at the top. The basic tool for anyone who chooses or passes on NCS codes every day.
NCS Index Glossy 1950The 1950 colours of the pre-2022 standard, in high gloss: about 88 gloss units at 60°. 216 pages with 10 colours per page in a sturdy binder, divided into five sets. For those who specify colours for high-gloss lacquers and materials.

The Glossy Index does not contain the 100 colours added to the standard in 2022. If you work with high gloss, the Glossy Index complements the Index 2050; it does not replace it.

Fan decks with a selection

NCS Interior 8484 colours for interiors, inspired by modern Scandinavian design. Four chapters: Delighted (white, grey, greige), Curious (beige, yellow, brown), Powerful (pink, red, purple) and Peaceful (green, blue). According to NCS, chosen for minimal visual change from small sample to large surface.
NCS Exterior 8484 colours for exteriors, inspired by modern Nordic architecture. Seven chapters: Clouds, Fields, Earth, Clay, Minerals, Sky and Grass. Chosen for how the colours behave under different outdoor light. Compact format of 4.7 × 14 cm.
NCS Inspire 10581058 standard colours in seven themes: Independent (pure neutrals), Nature, Still, Pale, Intense, Rich and Essentials. 177 pages. According to NCS, selected from the most popular colours in interior design and cost-efficient to produce. For designers who search by theme.
NCS WS 160160 neutral colours: white, grey and near-black, with chromaticness 00 to 05. Large samples of 140 × 47 mm, grouped by chromaticness. For those who work a lot with whites and greys and want to see small differences clearly.

Design tools with large or loose samples

NCS Atlas 2050All standard colours on 40 hue pages with up to 79 fixed samples each, plus pages for tinted whites and neutral greys. For each hue you see the whole NCS triangle. Samples of 15 × 15 and 15 × 13 mm in a binder of 35.5 × 40 cm. For analysis, teaching and seeing colour relationships.
NCS Block 2050All standard colours on samples of 35 × 104 mm in blocks, arranged by hue (Hue) or by nuance (Nuance). The Hue version has nine hue blocks and a WS block with 149 near-neutral colours. For client presentations and comparing next to materials.
NCS Box 2050All 2050 colours as loose A6 cards (148 × 105 mm), matt laminated, with the NCS code on the back. Weighs 9.8 kg. For judging colours in a larger format, in the studio or in production and quality control.
NCS Album 2050All colours as removable A9 samples (52 × 37 mm), three per colour: 6150 samples in two albums. You take samples out for mood boards and presentations and then put them back or replace them. For architects, interior designers and education.

Quick choice

  • I specify NCS codes every day: NCS Index 2050.
  • I mainly work with whites and greys: NCS WS 160, alongside the Index.
  • I design interiors and want a clear selection: Interior 84 or Inspire 1058.
  • I design facades and outdoor spaces: Exterior 84.
  • I specify high gloss: Index Glossy 1950, alongside the Index 2050.
  • I want to see colour relationships or teach: Atlas 2050.
  • I present to clients or compare with materials: Block 2050, Box 2050 or Album 2050.
Chosen from a selection, ordered by codeThe colours in Inspire 1058 and WS 160 are NCS standard colours. A colour you choose there can therefore be found in the Index 2050 and ordered as a loose colour sample, from A9 to A4.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the NCS Index 2050 and the NCS Atlas 2050?

Both contain all 2050 standard colours. The Index is a fan deck for quick searching and carrying around. The Atlas shows the whole NCS triangle for each hue on a large page, so you see how colours relate. The Index is for daily work, the Atlas for analysis and teaching.

Does the NCS Index Glossy contain all 2050 colours?

No. The Glossy Index contains the 1950 colours of the pre-2022 standard, in high gloss of about 88 gloss units at 60°. The 100 colours added in 2022 can be found in the Index 2050 and the other 2050 tools.

Which fan deck suits a painter or colour consultant?

Anyone who passes on codes every day gets the most out of the NCS Index 2050: every colour in one fan deck. For consultations in homes, Interior 84 or Inspire 1058 are easier to navigate. For facades there is Exterior 84.

Can I order a colour from a fan deck as a large sample?

Yes. Every NCS standard colour can be ordered as a loose, original NCS colour sample in five formats, from A9 to A4. That way you judge the colour in a larger format on site.

Is an older 1950 fan deck still usable?

The codes are still valid, but the 100 colours from 2022 are missing, and old samples can discolour through light and use. Use an old fan deck for searching and approve a colour on a current fan deck or a new loose sample.

Compare all fan decks and toolsView the original NCS colour fan decks and design tools. In doubt? Get in touch: our advice is independent.
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, director of SNKI. Colour expert, lecturer and researcher with 35 years of experience in colour technology and colour application.

Read on
NCS 1950 or 2050: what is the difference? →The NCS 2050 overview →Choosing white with NCS →