Europe · Vertical tricolour
How to draw the flag of France
The flag of France is three equal vertical bands — blue, white and red from the hoist. It flies at a ratio of 2:3.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. France flies at 2:3 — for every 3 units of width the flag is 2 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Divide the width into three. Mark two guide lines before you fill anything in. Even bands matter more than neat edges — the scorer cares where the colour blocks sit.
- Band 1: blue. Fill the first band from the hoist with blue. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
- Band 2: white. Fill the second band from the hoist with white. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
- Band 3: red. Fill the third band from the hoist with red. Use the fill tool rather than shading — flat blocks score better than sketchy strokes.
France flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | #002395 | rgb(0, 35, 149) |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
| Red | #ED2939 | rgb(237, 41, 57) |
What the flag means
Blue and red are the colours of Paris, wrapped around the white of the House of Bourbon — the city and the crown side by side.
Common mistakes
- Painting it horizontally. That is the Netherlands (red-white-blue) or Russia (white-blue-red). France is vertical, blue at the hoist.
- Watch out for the Netherlands, Russia, Italy and Luxembourg — they are close enough to France that people draw the wrong one from memory.
A trick for remembering it
BWR, left to right — the blue is always nearest the flagpole.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the France flag
What colours are on the flag of France?
France uses 3 colours: blue (#002395), white (#FFFFFF), red (#ED2939).
What order are the bands on the France flag?
Blue, then White, then Red — starting at the flagpole and moving to the fly.
What are the proportions of the France flag?
It flies at 2:3 (height to width). Drawing it at the wrong shape is one of the quickest ways to lose layout marks in the game.
What does the France flag mean?
Blue and red are the colours of Paris, wrapped around the white of the House of Bourbon — the city and the crown side by side.
Which flags look like the France flag?
Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Luxembourg. Watch out for the Netherlands, Russia, Italy and Luxembourg — they are close enough to France that people draw the wrong one from memory.
How hard is the France flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 1 out of 5. Flat colour blocks and no fine detail, so most players score in the eighties or nineties.
