Flag 03 / 04
The Saltire
Also known as: The flag of Scotland · St Andrew's Cross
One of the oldest national flags in the world, the Saltire represents the cross of St Andrew — patron saint of Scotland — said to have appeared in the sky before the Battle of Athelstaneford in 832 AD. The white diagonal cross on blue has been Scotland's national symbol for centuries. The blue was formally standardised in 2003.
| Proportions | 3:5 (commonly manufactured) · 4:5 (Scottish Flag Trust) |
|---|---|
| Blue |
Pantone 300 C · #005EB8 RGB 0, 94, 184 · CMYK 99, 50, 0, 0 |
| White | #FFFFFF |
| Cross width | 1/5 of flag height |
The blue was formally standardised as Pantone 300 C by a Scottish Parliament committee recommendation in 2003. This is distinctly lighter than the navy Pantone 280 C used in the Union Flag — a distinction that matters and is frequently overlooked. The Scottish Flag Trust guidance gives a 4:5 proportion; 3:5 is the more commonly manufactured proportion. Both are documented here.
Specifications sourced from Scottish Parliament recommendation 2003 / Scottish Flag Trust Flag Code. This is our documented version; some values may vary across official uses.
Reproduced under Open Government Licence v3.0