What Are the Official American Flag Colors?
The official american flag colors are three: Old Glory Red, White, and Old Glory Blue. Those are the names assigned by the U.S. Department of State. The authoritative technical reference is federal procurement specification DDD-F-416F (2005), issued by the General Services Administration, which defines each color using the Standard Color Reference of America (SCRA), 10th Edition, a textile-based color system published by the Color Association of the United States (CAUS). Because flags are cloth, a textile color standard is the correct reference, not a printer's ink chart.
What Is the Official Color Spec Table for the U.S. Flag?
The table below is the only extraction-ready reference that pairs every major color system in one place. Use it to verify vendor claims, evaluate product listings, or cross-check digital graphics.
| Color Name | Cable No. (SCRA/CAUS) | Pantone (PMS) Equivalent | Hex (Spec-Accurate) | RGB | CMYK (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Glory Red | 70180 | PMS 193 C | #B31942 | 179, 25, 66 | 0, 86, 63, 30 |
| White | 70001 | White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 |
| Old Glory Blue | 70075 | PMS 282 C | #0A3161 | 10, 49, 97 | 90, 50, 0, 62 |
Important note on Pantone: PMS 193 and PMS 282 are the most widely cited equivalents, referenced by American Embassy websites including the U.S. Embassy in London. Some sources cite PMS 281 for blue. These are interpretive conversions, not a single legally mandated Pantone number in foundational U.S. law. The Cable numbers are the binding textile reference for government procurement.
Why Do Hex Codes for the American Flag Disagree Online?
Two sets of hex values circulate on the web, and both claim to be correct. Here is what each one represents:
| Source Type | Red Hex | Blue Hex | Why It Differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail / design palette sites | #B22234 | #3C3B6E | Digitized from a physical flag photograph; inherits camera white balance and fabric sheen |
| Spec-accurate / federal procurement | #B31942 | #0A3161 | Mathematically converted from Cable No. 70180 / 70075, the correct reference for manufacturing |
The spec-accurate values (#B31942 red, #0A3161 blue) are darker and more saturated. The "retail" values look slightly lighter and more purple because they were sampled from a photographed flag rather than converted from the official textile spec. For purchasing decisions, the spec-accurate values are your baseline. If a manufacturer's product photography looks washed-out or purple-shifted against those values, that is a warning sign.
What Do the Colors of the American Flag Mean?
Color symbolism for the flag comes from Charles Thomson's 1782 description of the Great Seal of the United States, which was later applied to the flag by tradition:
- Red, hardiness and valor
- White, purity and innocence
- Blue, vigilance, perseverance, and justice
Old Glory Blue was formally standardized in 1934 specifically to end regional variation caused by inconsistent indigo dyeing. Before standardization, manufacturers produced noticeably different shades of navy. The CAUS Cable No. 70075 locked in a single regulated hue that remains the reference today.
Why Do Cheap Imported Flags Look the Wrong Color?
Off-spec flags fail the color standard for three compounding reasons:
- Off-spec dye lots. Budget overseas production uses generic navy and crimson dyes that are not matched to Cable No. 70075 or 70180. The blue often reads as medium navy or even purple; the red reads as brick or cherry instead of the correct vivid-but-deep Old Glory Red.
- UV-unstable dyes. Without UV-stabilized dye chemistry, red and blue fade unevenly within a single season. Red fades faster, leaving a flag that looks pink-and-navy, a clear off-spec result.
- Screen printing vs. sewn construction. Many cheap flags are screen-printed onto a single layer of fabric. The ink sits on the surface, fades quickly, and cannot reproduce the same depth of color as woven-in dye. The raised embroidery on sewn flags holds pigment at the fiber level, which is why construction method directly affects color accuracy and longevity.
Made-in-USA flags built to SCRA/Cable standards use dye lots matched to the specification, UV-stable chemistry, and sewn-stripe construction. The Nylon American Flag (100% Made in USA) uses embroidered stars and sewn stripes to lock in accurate Old Glory colors from the start. For coastal or high-UV environments where fade resistance is especially critical, pair your material selection with the guidance in our flag denier and material comparison guide.
How Can You Tell If a Flag Has the Right Colors Before You Buy?
Use this checklist when evaluating any flag listing:
- Check the blue. Old Glory Blue (#0A3161) is a deep, dark navy with no purple cast. If product photos show a medium or purple-tinted blue, the dye lot is off-spec.
- Check the red. Old Glory Red (#B31942) is a rich, slightly cool crimson. Brick red or bright cherry red both indicate off-spec dye.
- Verify Made-in-USA construction. U.S. manufacturers producing to DDD-F-416F have financial and reputational incentive to match Cable numbers. Overseas mass production does not.
- Look for sewn stripes and embroidered stars. These construction details correlate with the higher-quality dye process required to hold spec-accurate color.
- Read the listing carefully. For a full breakdown of what spec language in a flag listing actually means, see our guide to American flag specs decoded.
Which Flag Material Holds Official Colors Best?
Material affects how long your flag holds its Old Glory Red and Old Glory Blue. Here is a quick comparison:
- 2-ply spun polyester: Densest weave, highest UV resistance, best for year-round outdoor use and coastal climates. The Poly American Flag (100% Made in USA) features raised embroidery for sharp color definition and water-resistant durability.
- Knitted polyester: Tear-resistant open weave, strong color retention in high-wind environments. The Knitted Poly American Flag (100% Made in USA) holds authentic Old Glory colors even under repeated flexing and wind stress.
- 200D nylon: Lightweight and flies in light breezes; good color retention but fades faster than polyester in extreme UV. Best for moderate climates or ceremonial use.
If you want a complete display solution that keeps colors accurate from pole to fabric, the Premium American Flag Display Set includes a USA-made flag, pole, mount, and aluminum rings in one package. Browse all made-in-USA options in the American Flags collection.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Trusting palette-site hex codes for purchasing decisions. Values like #3C3B6E and #B22234 are photographed from physical flags, not converted from the Cable spec, they will mislead you when evaluating a listing.
- Assuming all "navy" is Old Glory Blue. Generic navy can range widely. Only Cable No. 70075 is Old Glory Blue; the difference is visible side-by-side.
- Buying screen-printed flags expecting color longevity. Surface-applied ink fades far faster than woven-in dye. Sewn-stripe construction is a prerequisite for lasting color accuracy.
- Ignoring UV exposure when choosing material. A flag in full desert or waterfront sun needs UV-stabilized polyester dye. Nylon is the right call for moderate climates, not high-UV coastal zones.
- Conflating "Pantone 282" with a legal mandate. Pantone equivalents are the industry's practical conversion of the Cable standard. No single Pantone number appears in foundational U.S. flag law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the official colors of the American flag by name?
The three official color names, per the U.S. Department of State, are Old Glory Red, White, and Old Glory Blue. These names correspond to Cable Numbers 70180, 70001, and 70075 in the Standard Color Reference of America.
What is the Old Glory Blue hex code?
The spec-accurate hex code for Old Glory Blue is #0A3161, derived from Cable No. 70075. Design palette sites sometimes list #3C3B6E, but that value was sampled from a photograph of a physical flag rather than converted from the official textile standard.
Is there a law requiring exact Pantone colors on all American flags?
No. The foundational U.S. Flag Code specifies proportions and design elements, not exact Pantone numbers. The Cable-number standard in DDD-F-416F applies to federal government procurement. For privately purchased flags there is no legal color penalty, but responsible U.S. manufacturers follow the same standard as a quality benchmark.
Why does Old Glory Blue look so much darker than a standard navy?
Old Glory Blue (Cable No. 70075, hex #0A3161) is a deep, high-saturation navy standardized in 1934 specifically to prevent the regional variation that came from inconsistent indigo dyeing. It is darker and less purple than most commercial "navy" fabrics, which is why a correctly made flag looks noticeably different from a generic off-the-shelf navy.
How do I know if a flag I already own has the correct colors?
Hold the canton (blue field) next to a known reference. Old Glory Blue should appear deep, almost midnight-navy, with no purple or medium-blue cast. The red stripes should look a rich, slightly cool crimson, not brick red, not cherry red. Significant fading, purple shift in the blue, or pale-pink red stripes all indicate either off-spec dye or UV degradation from a low-quality material.