A buff diamond on a colonial blue field bearing the state coat of arms, with the date "December 7, 1787" beneath.
The design
The Flag of usa-state/delaware/" data-it-autolink="1">Delaware is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 2:3, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses colonial blue, buff, gold, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial blue | colonial blue | A nationally significant colour for this flag — see the symbolism section below for the country-specific meaning. |
| Buff | buff | A nationally significant colour for this flag — see the symbolism section below for the country-specific meaning. |
| Gold | gold | Stands in for sunlight, mineral wealth or sovereign authority. |
| Source | Official flag law | The country’s own statute or constitutional appendix specifies exact shades and proportions. |
Symbolism & heraldry
The colours are those of George Washington's Continental Army uniform. The date is when Delaware became the first state to ratify the US Constitution. The coat of arms shows a farmer, a militiaman, and symbols of agriculture.
Heraldic elements on the Flag of Delaware — bands, charges, emblems or stars — each carry meaning agreed at the moment of the flag’s adoption. Re-readings happen across generations: a colour or a symbol that began with one meaning often picks up further layers as the country’s history unfolds.
Adoption & history
The current flag was adopted in 1913. Earlier banners flown by Flag of Delaware reflected the politics of their day; each redesign typically marked a moment of independence, regime change or constitutional reform. The current flag was chosen, debated and codified through the country’s official channels and is now protected by flag law.
Etiquette & protocol
The Flag of Delaware should be flown with respect: never allowed to touch the ground, never used as drapery for ceremonies it was not made for, and lowered or removed at sundown unless illuminated. When flown alongside other national flags, it takes precedence on home soil and is hoisted first and lowered last. On days of national mourning, the flag is flown at half-mast in line with directives from the head of state. These conventions are common to most nations and are usually written into the flag’s founding statute.
Specifications
| Field | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Flag of Delaware | — |
| Continent | North America | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | 2-letter code | |
| ISO alpha-3 | 3-letter code | |
| Adopted | 1913 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 2:3 | height : length |
| Colours | colonial blue, buff, gold | — |
| Designer | — | |
| Emoji | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
Delaware was first to ratify the Constitution on 7 December 1787 — earning the nickname "The First State" displayed on the flag.
