Oxford Blue
A deep blue shade representing the University of Oxford
Oxford Blue is a very dark blue, officially linked to the University of Oxford. Its exact shade is set by the university as Pantone 282 or hex code #002147, and it is used by Oxford's main sports teams and in their branding.
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- Defined as Pantone 282 or hex code #002147
- Represents the University of Oxford in sport and branding
- First chosen for the Oxford Boat Race crew in the 1800s
- Used on rowing blades of Oxford's top teams
- Adopted by other universities and sports teams
What colour is Oxford Blue?
Oxford Blue is a very dark blue, close to navy, and is the official colour for the University of Oxford. It is defined by the university as Pantone 282 or hex code #002147, making it a specific and recognisable shade. Its deep tone sets it apart from lighter blues such as Cambridge Blue, and it is often seen in university sports and branding.
Where does Oxford Blue come from?
The choice of Oxford Blue dates back to the early 1800s, when members of the first Oxford Boat Race crew picked a colour based on a Christ Church college sports shirt, but made the blue stripe wider and deeper. The tradition of Oxford Blue began with these sporting links and has continued as a symbol for the university.
How Oxford Blue is defined
Oxford Blue is not a pigment or dye, but a colour defined by modern colour standards. The University of Oxford specifies it as Pantone 282 or the digital hex code #002147, ensuring consistency across printed and digital materials.
Where Oxford Blue is used
This shade is most closely tied to Oxford’s main sports teams, especially in rowing, where it marks the blades of the top crews. Many Oxford colleges and local clubs use it in their uniforms or equipment, and it has also been adopted by sports teams and universities elsewhere, sometimes in slightly different forms.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
Lapis lazuli has been mined in the mountains of Badakhshan for more than six thousand years. Ground to powder it gave ultramarine, the costliest blue in European painting.
Royalty and powerSacred and holyAweSource: Lapis lazuliThe chadari is a full-length covering for women with a mesh panel over the eyes. In Kabul and the north it is most often a light blue.
Protection and healingSource: BurqaThe blue band of the flag stands for the wish of the Armenian people to live under peaceful skies. The red above it is for the highlands and the struggle to survive.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Flag of ArmeniaThe flag is sky blue, white and sky blue, created by Manuel Belgrano in 1812. National teams are called the Albiceleste, the white and sky blue.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of ArgentinaBoca Juniors play in blue and gold. The club's story is that in 1907 it took the colours of the flag of the next ship into port, which was Swedish.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Boca JuniorsTo be true blue is to be honestly and loyally Australian. The phrase is older than the country, but Australians have made it their own.
Politics and protestTrustSource: True Blue (John Williamson song)Shades and relatives of Oxford Blue
Oxford Blue is related to other deep blues used by universities, such as U of T Blue and Duke Blue. It is much darker than Cambridge Blue, which represents the University of Cambridge. These shades are sometimes confused, but each has its own official definition.
Colours that go with Oxford Blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #002147. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Oxford Blue
What colour is Oxford Blue?
Oxford Blue is a very dark blue, close to navy, officially set as Pantone 282 or hex code #002147.
Where does the name Oxford Blue come from?
The name comes from its use by the University of Oxford, first chosen for the university's Boat Race crew in the 1800s.
How is Oxford Blue used?
It is used for Oxford’s main sports teams, especially in rowing, and appears in university branding and uniforms.
Is Oxford Blue the same as Cambridge Blue?
No, Cambridge Blue is much lighter and represents the University of Cambridge, while Oxford Blue is a deep, dark blue.
How is Oxford Blue defined?
It is defined by the University of Oxford as Pantone 282 or hex code #002147 for consistency.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Oxford Blue (colour)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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