Colorado's Annoyingly Inconsistent Flag

The Colorado flag is one of my favorites. Simple, bold, instantly recognizable from across a parking lot. Three horizontal stripes, a gold C with a red interior, and a clean white ring separating the C from the blue stripe behind it. It follows good flag design principles. It works at any size.

So why has it been driving me crazy?

The tips of the C.

Look at ten different Colorado flags and you'll find three different versions. On some, the tips of the C sit inside the white stripe. On others, they poke outside it. And on others, they land right on the line, matching it perfectly. All three versions exist in the wild and all three get printed and sold. So which is correct?

I went to the Colorado State Capitol to figure this out in person.

What the Law Actually Says

Colorado's flag law does specify proportions. The official ratio is 2:3, meaning for every two units of height, the flag is three units wide. The law also specifies the size and placement of the C and the gold disc inside it: 

"The diameter of the letter shall be two thirds the width of the flag. The opening of the letter C shall be three fourths the width of its body or bar."

When you do the math strictly by those (very confusing and vague) proportions, the tips of the C land inside the white ring, all because the dimensions of the C are dependent on the width and height of the flag. 

Here's the fun part, most flags aren't made at a 2:3 ratio.

The most common flag size in the United States is 3 feet by 5 feet. When you apply Colorado's official placement rules to a 3x5 flag instead of the official 2:3 proportions, the math shifts. The tips of the C move outward and land right on the white line!

So which is correct? Technically, the 2:3 version with the tips inside the line is what the law produces. But practically, almost no one makes a 2:3 flag. The 3x5 version (which we sell at Flags For Good), with the tips touch the white line.

What I Found at the Capitol

I visited the Colorado State Capitol to see how the state itself handles this. Every. Single. Flag. on display had the C tips touching the white line!

I also visited the History Colorado Center and looked at the historical flags in the collection. Same story. The big flag that was displayed behind the governor since the 1950s...the C touches the line. 

So while the strict legal math puts the tips inside the white, the state's own capitol displays the touching version. The historical record shows the touching version. And honestly, if we're all honest with ourselves, it looks better. When the tips float inside the ring, there's a visual tension that makes the design feel unresolved. 

What Should Be Official

Colorado should update its flag law to specify the 3x5 proportions and lock in the C-tips-touching-the-line version. It's what the capitol flies. It's what history shows. It's what looks right. The current situation, where the official math produces one result and common practice produces another, is exactly the kind of thing that leads to a flag looking different on every product it appears on which is evidenced in the video above.

For now, if you're buying a Colorado flag, look for the version with the C tips touching the white ring. That's the one the state capitol flies, and it's the one I'd argue is correct until the law catches up.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Colorado State Flag

What do the colors of the Colorado flag mean?

The blue stripes represent Colorado's clear skies. The white stripe represents the snow-capped mountains. The gold in the letter C represents the state's abundant sunshine. The red interior of the C represents the state's red soil and rock. Colorado's nickname is the Centennial State, and the C stands for Colorado.

What does the C on the Colorado flag stand for?

The C stands for Colorado. The letter was added to the flag design when it was standardized in 1911 and revised in 1929. The red interior and gold outline are Colorado's official state colors.

Why does the Colorado flag look different on different products?

Colorado's flag law specifies official proportions of 2:3, but most flags are manufactured at the more common 3x5 size, which is a 3:5 ratio. When you apply the same placement rules to both sizes, the tips of the C land in slightly different positions relative to the white ring. The result is three versions in circulation: tips inside the ring, tips outside the ring, and tips touching the ring. The capitol and historical collections consistently show the tips touching the line.

What are the official Colorado flag proportions?

Colorado's official flag law specifies a 2:3 ratio. Under those proportions, the tips of the C fall inside the white ring. However, the 3x5 size common to most manufactured flags produces a version where the C tips touch the white ring, which matches what is displayed at the Colorado State Capitol and in historical flag collections.

When was the Colorado flag designed?

The Colorado state flag was first adopted in 1911. It was revised in 1929 to add the gold outline to the letter C and standardize the colors. The design has remained largely unchanged since then, though the proportional inconsistency in the C placement has never been officially resolved.

Is the Colorado flag a good flag design?

By vexillological standards, yes, mostly. It uses a simple color palette, has a distinct and recognizable symbol, and works well at any size. The main issue is the inconsistency in how the C is rendered across different manufacturers and sizes. A cleaner legal specification of the proportions would fix that and make it a near-perfect state flag.

Where can I buy a Colorado flag?

Flags For Good carries Colorado flags in multiple sizes, and every purchase donates $1 to a cause of your choice.