Europe · Unique design
How to draw the flag of United Kingdom
The flag of the United Kingdom is a red cross with a white fimbriation over a red and white saltire on a dark blue field. It flies at a ratio of 1:2.
Step by step
- Start with the right shape. the United Kingdom flies at 1:2 — for every 2 units of width the flag is 1 tall. Sketch that rectangle first; a flag drawn too square is the fastest way to lose layout points.
- Block in the background. Fill the whole flag with blue first, then build the rest on top of it. Working from the largest area to the smallest keeps the proportions honest.
- Add the white and red. A one-of-a-kind layout. Place these shapes by eye against the edges of the flag, not against each other.
United Kingdom flag colours
The colour codes below are the ones to reach for if you are recreating the flag digitally.
| Colour | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | #012169 | rgb(1, 33, 105) |
| White | #FFFFFF | rgb(255, 255, 255) |
| Red | #C8102E | rgb(200, 16, 46) |
What the flag means
The Union Jack layers three crosses: St George for England, St Andrew's saltire for Scotland, and St Patrick's saltire for Ireland.
Common mistakes
- Drawing the diagonals symmetrically. The white and red diagonals are offset — the red is shifted toward the bottom on the hoist side, and any mirror image is upside down.
- Watch out for Australia and New Zealand — they are close enough to the United Kingdom that people draw the wrong one from memory.
A trick for remembering it
Wide white first, then the thin red saltire pinned to one side of it, then the big red cross with a white border on top.
Flags that look like this one
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairs people mix up:
Questions about the United Kingdom flag
What colours are on the flag of United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom uses 3 colours: blue (#012169), white (#FFFFFF), red (#C8102E).
What are the proportions of the United Kingdom flag?
It flies at 1:2 (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 United Kingdom flag mean?
The Union Jack layers three crosses: St George for England, St Andrew's saltire for Scotland, and St Patrick's saltire for Ireland.
Which flags look like the United Kingdom flag?
Australia, New Zealand. Watch out for Australia and New Zealand — they are close enough to the United Kingdom that people draw the wrong one from memory.
How hard is the United Kingdom flag to draw from memory?
PlayVexle rates it 4 out of 5. There is detailed artwork in the middle, which is worth only 10% of the score — get the colour blocks right first.
