The British Standard BS 381C specifies colours used in identification, coding and other special purposes. This is a key reference for specifying a particular paint colour to use in the refurbishment of buildings –
especially at Local Authority level or for major works, such as office blocks, airports, schools and hospitals.
BS381 101 BS381 102 BS381 103 BS381 104 BS381 105
Sky blue *Turquoise blue Peacock blue Azure blue Oxford blue
BS381 106 BS381 107 BS381 108 BS381 109 BS381 110
Royal blue Strong blue Aircraft blue Middle blue / Anchusa Roundel blue
BS381 216 BS381 217 BS381 218 BS381 220 BS381 221
Eau de Nil Sea green Grass green Olive green Brilliant green
BS381 222 BS381 223 BS381 224 BS381 225 BS381 226
*Light bronze green Middle bronze green Deep bronze green Light Brunswick green Mid Brunswick green
BS381 227 BS381 228 BS381 241 BS381 262 BS381 267
Deep Brunswick green Emerald green / Viridian Dark green Bold green Deep chrome green / Traffic green
BS381 275 BS381 278 BS381 280 BS381 282 BS381 283
*Opaline green *Light olive green Verdigris green *Forest green Aircraft grey green
BS381 284 BS381 285 BS381 298 BS381 309 BS381 310
Spruce green NATO green Olive drab Canary yellow Primrose
BS381 315 BS381 320 BS381 337 BS381 350 BS381 352
Grapefruit Light brown Very dark drab *Dark earth Pale cream
BS381 353 BS381 355 BS381 356 BS381 358 BS381 359
Deep cream Lemon Golden yellow Light buff *Middle buff
BS381 361 BS381 363 BS381 365 BS381 366 BS381 367
Light stone Bold yellow Vellum Light beige Manilla
BS381 369 BS381 380 BS381 384 BS381 388 BS381 389
Biscuit Camouflage desert sand Light straw Beige Camouflage beige
BS381 411 BS381 412 BS381 414 BS381 420 BS381 435
Middle brown Dark brown Golden brown Dark camouflage desert sand *Camouflage red
BS381 436 BS381 444 BS381 445 BS381 446 BS381 447
Dark camouflage brown *Terracotta Venetian red *Red oxide Salmon pink
BS381 448 BS381 449 BS381 452 BS381 453 BS381 454
*Deep Indian red *Light purple brown *Dark crimson Shell pink Pale roundel red
BS381 460 BS381 473 BS381 489 BS381 499 BS381 537
*Deep Buff *Gulf red *Leaf brown Service brown Signal red
BS381 538 BS381 539 BS381 540 BS381 541 BS381 542
Post office red / Cherry Currant red *Crimson Maroon Ruby
BS381 557 BS381 564 BS381 568 BS381 592 BS381 593
Light orange Bold red Apricot International orange Rail red / Azo orange
BS381 626 BS381 627 BS381 629 BS381 630 BS381 631
Camouflage grey Light aircraft grey Dark camouflage grey French grey Light grey
BS381 632 BS381 633 BS381 634 BS381 635 BS381 636
Dark admiralty grey *RAF blue-grey *Slate *Lead *PRU blue
BS381 637 BS381 638 BS381 639 BS381 640 BS381 642
Medium sea grey Dark sea grey *Light slate grey *Extra dark sea grey Night
BS381 671 BS381 676 BS381 677 BS381 692 BS381 693
*Middle graphite Light weatherwork grey Dark weatherwork grey Smoke grey Aircraft grey
The British Standard BS 4800 specifies colours of paint for building and construction works. This is a key reference for specifying a particular paint colour to use in the refurbishment of buildings – especially at Local
Authority level or for major works, such as office blocks, airports, schools and hospitals.
Ash grey / Oyster grey / Portland Goose grey / Sea mist / Goosewing Flint grey / Flint Storm grey / Greyfriar Lupin pink / Candy floss / Pink wafer
Mandarin orange / Clementine / Calendula Maori brown / Nectarine Magnolia Honey beige / Fawn / Sandstone Antelope
New BS4800: 2011 colour range. The extended (2011) range of BS4800 colours is shown below. The new (2011) standard includes 22 additional colours that are mostly brighter to reflect the latest trends for public
buildings and spaces. These paint colours are widely recognised throughout the UK and are often used to meet safety, legal or contractual requirements.
04 C 31 06 C 35 06 C 40 08 C 33 12 C 31
**Pink **Light orange **Brown **Beige **Light yellow
12 C 37 08 D 41 12 D 41 20 D 41 22 D 41
**Green **Yellow **Green **Powder blue **Purple
04 E 55 04 E 56 04 E 58 08 E 55 10 E 55
**Red **Carnival red **Purple **Orange **Cannary yellow
12 E 55 14 E 49 14 E 50 16 E 50 20 E 53
**Green **Light green **Green **Turquoise **Blue
20 E 56 24 E 53
**Blue **Purple