Stanford Cardinal Red
A deep red colour used by Stanford University in its identity and sports
Stanford Cardinal Red is a dark red shade used as the official colour of Stanford University in California, United States. The colour is closely tied to the university’s identity, appearing in its logo, branding, and athletic uniforms. Its hex code is #8C1515.
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- Stanford Cardinal Red’s hex code is #8C1515
- It is the official colour of Stanford University
- Used in Stanford’s logos, branding, and athletic uniforms
- Paired with white as the university’s colours
What colour is Stanford Cardinal Red?
Stanford Cardinal Red is a strong, dark red colour. It is the official colour of Stanford University and is used in its branding, logos, and athletic uniforms. The colour stands out for its depth and richness, setting it apart from lighter reds or crimson shades. Cardinal Red is paired with white in the university’s official colours.
Where does Stanford Cardinal Red come from?
The name 'Cardinal Red' refers to the deep red shade chosen by Stanford University as its identifying colour. The colour is not named after the bird but after the hue itself, which is called 'cardinal' in English for its resemblance to the robes of Catholic cardinals. Stanford adopted this colour for its teams and identity, and it has been a symbol of the university since its early years.
How Stanford Cardinal Red is defined
Stanford Cardinal Red is defined by its digital hex code, #8C1515, for use on screens and in print. For physical applications like uniforms and flags, the university specifies the colour through standardised colour systems to ensure consistency. The exact pigment or dye used may vary depending on the material.
Where Stanford Cardinal Red is used
The colour is most visible in Stanford University’s sports uniforms, logos, and official branding. It is also used on flags and in digital media representing the university. Cardinal Red helps distinguish Stanford’s teams and identity from other institutions, especially in collegiate athletics.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
Since the television maps of the 2000 election, red has meant the Republican Party and blue the Democrats, giving the phrases red state and blue state. Before then the networks had no fixed scheme.
Politics and protestSource: Red states and blue statesThe flag uses the four Pan-Arab colours: a red bar at the hoist with green, white and black bands. It was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of the United Arab EmiratesThe flag is a black double-headed eagle on red, the banner of the fifteenth-century hero Skanderbeg. Fans chant Kuq e Zi, red and black.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of AlbaniaArmenian scribes painted manuscripts with vordan karmir, a crimson dye made from an insect that lives on the roots of grasses in the Ararat plain.
Sacred and holySource: Armenian cochinealUnder Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 1830s and 1840s, everyone had to wear a scarlet ribbon to show loyalty to his Federalist party. His enemies, the Unitarians, were tied to sky blue.
Politics and protestFearSource: Juan Manuel de RosasThe flag is red, white and red. Legend says Duke Leopold V's white tunic was soaked in blood at the siege of Acre, all but the band under his belt.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of AustriaShades and relatives of Stanford Cardinal Red
Cardinal Red is sometimes confused with other deep reds like crimson or maroon, but it is a distinct shade with its own standard. The university pairs it with white as its official colours. Other institutions may use similar reds, but Stanford’s Cardinal Red is defined by its specific code.
Colours that go with Stanford Cardinal Red
Harmonies are worked out from the value #8C1515. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Stanford Cardinal Red
What colour is Stanford Cardinal Red?
Stanford Cardinal Red is a deep, dark red. Its digital hex code is #8C1515, and it is used as the official colour of Stanford University.
Where does the name 'Cardinal Red' come from?
The name refers to the deep red hue called 'cardinal', named for its resemblance to the robes of Catholic cardinals. At Stanford, it is not named after the bird.
Where is Stanford Cardinal Red used?
It is used in Stanford University’s branding, sports uniforms, logos, and flags, helping to identify and distinguish the university.
Is Cardinal Red unique to Stanford?
While other institutions may use similar reds, Stanford Cardinal Red is defined by its specific shade and is closely tied to the university’s identity.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Stanford's Anderson Collection museum to feature trove of couple's artLos Angeles Times, Article
- Library of Congress CatalogLibrary of Congress, Article
- Stanford University on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Stanford University", 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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