Europe · Vertical tricolour
How to draw the flag of Italy
The flag of Italy is three equal vertical bands — green, white and red from the hoist. It flies at a ratio of 2:3.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. Italy 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: green. Fill the first band from the hoist with green. 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.
Italy flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Green | #008C45 | rgb(0, 140, 69) |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
| Red | #CD212A | rgb(205, 33, 42) |
What the flag means
The green-white-red tricolour was born in the Cispadane Republic of 1797, modelled on the French flag with green replacing blue.
Common mistakes
- Swapping green and red. Green is at the hoist. Reverse it and you have drawn a rough Mexico or Hungary rotated.
- Watch out for Ireland, Mexico and Hungary — they are close enough to Italy that people draw the wrong one from memory.
A trick for remembering it
Think of a Caprese salad in order: basil, mozzarella, tomato.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the Italy flag
What colours are on the flag of Italy?
Italy uses 3 colours: green (#008C45), white (#FFFFFF), red (#CD212A).
What order are the bands on the Italy flag?
Green, then White, then Red — starting at the flagpole and moving to the fly.
What are the proportions of the Italy 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 Italy flag mean?
The green-white-red tricolour was born in the Cispadane Republic of 1797, modelled on the French flag with green replacing blue.
Which flags look like the Italy flag?
Ireland, Mexico, Hungary. Watch out for Ireland, Mexico and Hungary — they are close enough to Italy that people draw the wrong one from memory.
How hard is the Italy 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.
