Color Measuring Instruments Market Report 2026

The color measuring instruments market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.48 billion in 2025 to $1.62 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to standardization of color quality in manufacturing, growth of textile and coatings industries, increased adoption of objective measurement tools, expansion of plastics processing, rising quality control requirements.

The color measuring instruments market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.29 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing automation in production lines, growing demand for real-time color monitoring, expansion of smart factories, rising use of digital twins in quality control, increasing adoption in food and beverage processing. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of automated color quality control systems, rising demand for high-precision spectrophotometers, growing integration of digital color management software, expansion of inline and portable measurement devices, enhanced focus on consistency in manufacturing.

The increasing investment in research and development (R&D) is expected to drive the growth of the color measuring instruments market going forward. R&D investment refers to the expenditure allocated by governments and private enterprises toward scientific research, technological innovation, and the development of new technologies. This investment is rising due to growing demand for innovation, advancements in manufacturing and quality-control standards, and the need for consistent, high-quality production across industries. R&D investment enhances the precision, efficiency, and reliability of color measuring instruments by supporting the development of advanced sensors, calibration technologies, and software that ensure consistent color measurement in sectors such as textiles, printing, automotive, and coating. For example, in December 2024, Eurostat reported that the EU’s expenditure on R&D rose to $442.18 billion (€381.4 billion) in 2023, representing a 6.7% increase compared with the previous year. Therefore, the rise in research and development investment is driving the growth of the color measuring instruments market.

Major companies operating in the color measuring instruments market are focusing on developing advanced products such as spectrophotometers to improve measurement accuracy and meet diverse industry needs. A spectrophotometer is an instrument that measures the amount of light a sample absorbs or transmits at specific wavelengths, and it is widely used to determine color, concentration, and chemical composition with high accuracy. For example, in December 2024, Konica Minolta, a Japan-based technology company, introduced the CM-3700A Plus, a flagship spectrophotometer model designed to deliver exceptional accuracy and reliability in color measurement. This updated model builds on the widely used CM-3700A and achieves world-class precision, including improved capability for measuring challenging colors such as black. It includes features such as a camera viewfinder for easier sample positioning and a thermometer that measures sample temperature alongside color. The device can measure both SCI and SCE simultaneously, cutting measurement time nearly in half, and incorporates durable components to ensure long-term performance, making it highly effective for quality control in industries such as automotive, electronics, and cosmetics.

In November 2024, X-Rite Incorporated, a US-based provider of color science and technology, acquired Colorware B.V. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allows X-Rite to expand its comprehensive color management solutions for the printing and packaging industries by integrating Colorware’s flagship product to support precise and efficient color quality control in print production workflows. Colorware B.V. is a Netherlands-based provider of color management software for printing and packaging applications.

Major companies operating in the color measuring instruments market are Konica Minolta Inc., X-Rite Incorporated, Datacolor AG, BYK-Gardner GmbH, Nippon Denshoku Industries Co. Ltd., ColorLite GmbH, Techkon GmbH, Instrument Systems GmbH, Chromasens GmbH, Hunter Associates Laboratory Inc., JETI Technische Instrumente GmbH, Admesy B.V., Murakami Color Research Laboratory Co. Ltd., Hangzhou CHNSpec Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Wave Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Threenh Technology Co. Ltd., Toray Engineering Co. Ltd., Radiant Vision Systems Inc., Photo Research Inc., Konica Minolta Sensing Americas Inc. (brand-level, not subsidiary manufacturing split), Shanghai Precision & Scientific Instrument Co. Ltd., Beijing Beifen-Ruili Analytical Instrument Co. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the color measuring instruments market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the color measuring instruments market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the color measuring instruments market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The color measuring instruments market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as quality control, formulation, consistency testing, spectral analysis, digital color communication, and gloss and appearance evaluation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The color measuring instruments market also includes sales of color analyzers, chroma meters, portable color scanners, and image-based color measurement systems. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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