U of T Blue
A deep navy blue used by the University of Toronto since its founding
U of T Blue is a dark navy blue defined as Pantone PMS 655 or hex #1E3765. It is the official colour of the University of Toronto, chosen to reflect its history and identity, and has influenced the use of blue in Toronto's sports teams and city branding.
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- Defined as Pantone PMS 655 and hex #1E3765
- Used by the University of Toronto since 1827
- Modelled after Oxford Blue
- Primary colour for Toronto's Varsity Blues teams
- Influenced the colour of Toronto's city flag and sports teams
What colour is U of T Blue?
U of T Blue is a deep shade of navy blue, officially defined by the University of Toronto as Pantone PMS 655 or hex #1E3765. It stands out for its strong association with the university, serving as its sole primary colour in all branding and communications. The colour is dark and rich, similar to the blue used by the University of Oxford, and is distinct from other university blues such as Yale Blue.
Where does U of T Blue come from?
The colour was chosen when the University of Toronto was founded in 1827, then known as King's College. Its selection was influenced by the University of Oxford's blue, reflecting the university's historical ties to English academic traditions. U of T Blue has since become a symbol of the university's legacy and reputation.
How U of T Blue is defined
U of T Blue is not a pigment or dye but a standardised colour value. It is specified for print and digital use as Pantone PMS 655 and hex code #1E3765, ensuring consistency across all university materials. The colour is reproduced using standard colour matching systems in printing and on screens.
Where U of T Blue is used
The colour is used in all official branding, communications, and sports uniforms at the University of Toronto. It is the main colour for the university's Varsity Blues teams and appears on the coat of arms and academic dress. U of T Blue has also shaped the identity of Toronto, influencing the colours of major sports teams and the city's flag and logo.
What U of T Blue means
According to the university's brand guidelines, U of T Blue represents the institution's history, legacy, and reputation. It is a marker of excellence for the university, both locally and internationally. The colour also helps distinguish Toronto's identity from the national use of red in Canada.
Blue around the world
What the blue family means from country to country.
The flag of Quebec, the Fleurdelise, is blue with a white cross and four white lilies. Blue is the colour of Quebec nationalism and of the Parti Quebecois.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of QuebecLapis 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 JuniorsShades and relatives of U of T Blue
U of T Blue is closely related to Oxford Blue, which served as its model. It differs from other dark university blues such as Yale Blue, which are defined by their own traditions and colour standards. Other Toronto institutions use similar but not identical shades of blue.
Colours that go with U of T Blue
Harmonies are worked out from the value #1E3765. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about U of T Blue
What colour is U of T Blue?
U of T Blue is a deep navy blue, officially defined as Pantone PMS 655 or hex #1E3765. It is a dark, rich blue used by the University of Toronto.
Where does the name U of T Blue come from?
The name comes from its use by the University of Toronto, which adopted the colour when it was founded in 1827, inspired by Oxford Blue.
How is U of T Blue used?
U of T Blue is the main colour for all University of Toronto branding, official communications, and sports uniforms. It also appears on the university's coat of arms and academic dress.
How is U of T Blue defined for printing and screens?
It is specified as Pantone PMS 655 for print and as hex code #1E3765 for digital use, ensuring the same shade appears across all materials.
Has U of T Blue influenced other colours in Toronto?
Yes, many Toronto sports teams and the city's flag use similar shades of blue, following the example set by the University of Toronto.
Good reading and sources
- U of T Blue on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "U of T Blue", 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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