How to Draw the Bahamas Flag: Dimensions, Ratio & Construction
A practical step-by-step guide to drawing the Bahamas flag accurately, including its 1:2 format, three equal stripes and black equilateral triangle.
Bahamas flag proportions
The Bahamas national flag is commonly reproduced in a 1:2 height-to-length ratio. That means a flag 100 cm high is 200 cm long; a flag 3 feet high is 6 feet long.
The 1973 Flags and Coat of Arms (Regulation) Act gives the flag’s heraldic description—“Azure a Fess Or issuing from the dexter a Pile Sable”—but does not state numerical construction dimensions in the schedule. For practical reproduction, the 1:2 format and equilateral black triangle are the established modern construction.
Step-by-step: how to draw the Bahamas flag
1. Draw the rectangle
Choose any height H. Make the total length 2H. For example, a 300 px-high drawing should be 600 px wide.
2. Divide it into thirds
Divide the height into three equal horizontal bands. Each stripe is exactly one-third of the flag height.
3. Add the colors
Color the top and bottom bands aquamarine. Color the middle band gold.
4. Construct the triangle
Use the full hoist edge as the base of a black equilateral triangle. Its point sits on the horizontal centerline.
How far does the black triangle extend?
If the triangle is equilateral and its vertical base equals the flag height H, its horizontal depth is:
Because the whole flag width is 2H, the triangle point sits about 43.3% of the total flag width from the hoist.
For a 600 × 300 px drawing, the triangle point is therefore about 259.8 px from the hoist and centered vertically at 150 px.
Bahamas flag construction coordinates
| Example canvas | Coordinates / dimensions |
|---|---|
| 600 × 300 px | Top band: y 0–100; gold band: y 100–200; bottom band: y 200–300 |
| Triangle base | (0,0) to (0,300) |
| Triangle point | Approximately (259.8,150) |
| Flag ratio | 1:2 |
| Stripe heights | 1:1:1 |
SVG-style construction
A convenient normalized coordinate system is a 6 × 3 canvas. The gold stripe occupies y=1 to y=2, while the black triangle uses the points:
This is useful for SVG files, vector illustration and responsive web graphics because every value scales proportionally.
What colors should you use?
Government information published by the Bahamas Ministry of National Security states that the Pantone colors approved in April 2006 are PMS 3145 for aquamarine, PMS 123 for gold and PMS Standard Black.
| Color | Production reference | Useful screen approximation |
|---|---|---|
| Aquamarine | Pantone 3145 | #00778B |
| Gold | Pantone 123 | #FFC72C |
| Black | Standard Black | #000000 |
Common drawing mistakes
Making the middle band thicker
All three horizontal bands are equal in height.
Using bright cyan
The official color is described as aquamarine; government guidance points to PMS 3145.
Making the triangle too shallow
An equilateral triangle reaches much farther into the field than many simplified drawings show.
Using a 2:3 rectangle
The Bahamas flag is commonly reproduced in a 1:2 format, so it is visually longer than many national flags.
FAQ
What is the ratio of the Bahamas flag?
The flag is commonly specified in a 1:2 height-to-length ratio.
Are the three Bahamas flag stripes equal?
Yes. The aquamarine, gold and aquamarine bands are equal in height.
Is the black triangle equilateral?
The modern flag is generally constructed with an equilateral triangle whose base fills the hoist edge.
How deep should the triangle be?
For a flag height H, an equilateral triangle has a depth of H × √3 / 2, approximately 0.866H.
What are the Bahamas flag Pantone colors?
PMS 3145 aquamarine, PMS 123 gold and standard black are the government references reported as approved in 2006.
