Overview
- The Iowa Hawkeyes use black and gold as their primary official brand colors, with gold providing the most recognizable accent across athletics branding, uniforms and fan-facing materials.
- This guide lists the current official HEX, RGB, CMYK and Pantone information published by the University of Iowa, while clearly labeling values that are not officially published.
- These color references are useful for websites, presentations, digital graphics, print layouts, fan content and brand-reference work, subject to University of Iowa trademark and licensing rules.
Iowa Hawkeyes Team Information
| Team Name | Iowa Hawkeyes |
|---|---|
| League | NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) |
| Division | Big Ten Conference |
| Location | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Home Stadium / Arena | Kinnick Stadium |
| Official Website | Visit Iowa Hawkeyes |
Iowa Hawkeyes Color Codes
The official Iowa Hawkeyes colors are commonly used across team branding, uniforms, digital graphics, fan designs, presentations and web projects. The table below lists the best available color values for HEX, RGB, CMYK and Pantone references. Black and gold are the official primary colors in the current University of Iowa Brand Manual; white is included only as a practical supporting neutral and is not identified there as a primary brand color.
| Color Name | Pantone | HEX | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | PMS 116 C | #FFCD00 | 255, 205, 0 | 0, 18, 100, 0 |
| Black | Not officially published | #000000 | Best available estimate: 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 |
| White (supporting neutral) | Not officially published | Not officially published; standard white is #FFFFFF | Not officially published; standard white is 255, 255, 255 | Not officially published; standard white is 0, 0, 0, 0 |
Official-source note: The current University of Iowa Brand Manual publishes gold as PMS 116 C, HEX #FFCD00, RGB 255, 205, 0 and CMYK 0, 18, 100, 0. An older official Iowa athletics licensing guide listed a different digital gold value, including HEX #FCD116. Because those official sources conflict, this article follows the current online brand manual as the primary reference.
How to Use Iowa Hawkeyes Colors
You can use the Iowa Hawkeyes color codes for digital design, website elements, social media graphics, printable materials, fan artwork, presentations and sports-related content. HEX codes are typically best for websites, RGB values are useful for screens and digital design, while CMYK values are mainly used for print projects. For readable digital layouts, avoid gold text on white or white text on gold because the official brand manual warns that this pairing does not meet its stated contrast target for normal text. Use black text on gold, or gold as an accent beside black and white, for stronger contrast.
Iowa Hawkeyes HEX Color Codes
The main Iowa Hawkeyes HEX color codes are #FFCD00 for gold and #000000 for black. The conventional #FFFFFF value may be used for a supporting white neutral, but it is not published as a primary Iowa color in the current official brand manual. These values are useful in HTML, CSS, website interfaces, digital graphics and online branding references.
Iowa Hawkeyes RGB Color Codes
The official Iowa gold RGB color code is 255, 205, 0. The current brand manual publishes black as HEX #000000 but does not separately publish an RGB triplet, so 0, 0, 0 is the best available direct RGB equivalent rather than a separately stated official specification. RGB values are useful for social media graphics, digital banners, video graphics and presentation slides.
Iowa Hawkeyes CMYK Color Codes
The official Iowa CMYK color codes are 0, 18, 100, 0 for gold and 0, 0, 0, 100 for solid black. The University of Iowa also publishes a rich-black formula of 40, 30, 30, 100 for denser four-color printing. Because output can vary by printer, paper, ink and color profile, test a printed proof before final production.
Iowa Hawkeyes Pantone Colors
The officially published Iowa gold Pantone color is PMS 116 C. The current official brand manual instructs printers to match the PMS 116 C swatch and specifically advises against substituting PMS 116 U on uncoated stock. A Pantone value for black is not officially published on the current color page, so black should be reproduced using the official solid-black or rich-black CMYK values rather than an assumed Pantone match.
FAQ About Iowa Hawkeyes Color Codes
What are the official Iowa Hawkeyes colors?
The official primary Iowa Hawkeyes colors are black and gold. The current University of Iowa Brand Manual identifies black and gold as the primary palette and publishes PMS 116 C as the official gold spot color. White is useful as a supporting neutral, but it is not listed as a primary official color on the current color page.
What is the HEX code for Iowa Hawkeyes colors?
The current official Iowa Hawkeyes HEX codes are #FFCD00 for gold and #000000 for black. Some older official athletics licensing material lists #FCD116 for gold, but the current online University of Iowa Brand Manual publishes #FFCD00, which is the value used in this guide.
Can I use Iowa Hawkeyes colors for my own design project?
You can use Iowa Hawkeyes color codes as design references for personal fan content and non-commercial projects. Color values alone do not grant permission to use the Tigerhawk, wordmarks, uniforms or other protected brand assets. For merchandise, advertising, fundraising, sponsorships or other commercial uses, review the University of Iowa Trademark Licensing Program requirements and obtain any required approval before production or publication.
