A blue field with the state seal at the centre and a red banner reading "STATE OF usa-state/idaho/" data-it-autolink="1">IDAHO" below.
The design
The Flag of Idaho is a national emblem rendered in the colours and proportions defined by the country’s flag law. Its official aspect ratio is 26:33, the height-to-length ratio that fixes how the flag should be cut and flown. The colour scheme uses blue, gold, red, with each shade specified to particular Pantone or RGB values for official reproduction.
Colour palette
| Colour | Name | Common symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | blue | Frequently symbolises sky, sea, freedom, vigilance or perseverance. |
| Gold | gold | Stands in for sunlight, mineral wealth or sovereign authority. |
| Red | red | Often signifies courage, sacrifice, revolution or the blood of those who fought for the nation. |
| Source | Official flag law | The country’s own statute or constitutional appendix specifies exact shades and proportions. |
Symbolism & heraldry
The seal depicts a woman (Justice and Liberty) and a miner — the only US state seal designed by a woman, Emma Edwards Green, in 1891. Symbols include a pine tree, an elk head, agricultural produce, and the state motto Esto Perpetua ("Let it be perpetual").
Heraldic elements on the Flag of Idaho — 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 1907. Earlier banners flown by Flag of Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho | — |
| Continent | North America | — |
| ISO alpha-2 | 2-letter code | |
| ISO alpha-3 | 3-letter code | |
| Adopted | 1907 | year of current design |
| Proportion | 26:33 | height : length |
| Colours | blue, gold, red | — |
| Designer | — | |
| Emoji | Unicode codepoint sequence |
Did you know?
Emma Edwards Green won the 1891 design competition for the seal — making Idaho's the only US state seal drawn by a woman in the 19th century.
