North America · Vertical tricolour + emblem
How to draw the flag of Mexico
The flag of Mexico is three equal vertical bands — green, white and red from the hoist, with eagle, serpent and cactus. It flies at a ratio of 4:7.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. Mexico flies at 4:7 — for every 7 units of width the flag is 4 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.
- Finish with the eagle, serpent and cactus. Detail is the last ten percent of the score, so leave it until the colour blocks are down. Size and position count for more than drawing every line of it.
Mexico flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Green | #006847 | rgb(0, 104, 71) |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
| Red | #CE1126 | rgb(206, 17, 38) |
What the flag means
Green for independence, white for purity, red for the blood of national heroes, with the Aztec founding legend of Tenochtitlan at the centre.
Common mistakes
- Drawing it as Italy with a badge. The Mexican green is much darker, the flag is longer, and the eagle-and-serpent emblem is essential.
- Watch out for Italy and Ireland — they are close enough to Mexico that people draw the wrong one from memory.
- The proportions are unusual: 4:7 is slightly squarer than the usual 2:3 rectangle.
A trick for remembering it
Italy plus an eagle eating a snake on a cactus — and a deeper green.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the Mexico flag
What colours are on the flag of Mexico?
Mexico uses 3 colours: green (#006847), white (#FFFFFF), red (#CE1126).
What order are the bands on the Mexico flag?
Green, then White, then Red — starting at the flagpole and moving to the fly.
What are the proportions of the Mexico flag?
It flies at 4:7 (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 Mexico flag mean?
Green for independence, white for purity, red for the blood of national heroes, with the Aztec founding legend of Tenochtitlan at the centre.
Which flags look like the Mexico flag?
Italy, Ireland. The proportions are unusual: 4:7 is slightly squarer than the usual 2:3 rectangle.
How hard is the Mexico flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 5 out of 5. There is detailed artwork in the middle, which is worth only 10% of the score — get the colour blocks right first.
