Federal 595C Color Index

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The United States Federal Standard 595 (FED-STD-595) is one of a number of color identification systems used worldwide and is the system used by the Department of Defense in order to specify color requirements when ordering paint and painted equipment. The 595B Standard had been in use since 1989; recently, the 595C standard has emerged.

The images you see below are approximated equivalents of the indicated FED-STD-595B colors. We hope to come close to showing you the color as it "really is," but it is important to recognize that due to differences in computer monitor specifications and display settings, as well as materials, lighting and other environmental factors, there is no way for us to show you a color as it will appear on your intended surface with 100% accuracy. Please consult a FED-STD-595 Swatch Booklet for "true-to-life" samples of colors and always test paint on a not-so-visible portion of your surface before coating it in its entirety.

Understanding the Color Codes

A FED-STD-595B Color Code is a five-digit number comprised of three attributes:

Luster Predominate Color Reflectance
  1. Gloss
  2. Satin/Semi-Gloss
  3. Matte/Flat
  1. Brown
  2. Red
  3. Orange
  4. Yellow
  5. Green
  6. Blue
  7. Gray
  8. Other (White, Black, Metallic, etc.)
  9. Fluorescent
 The final three digits indicate the color's reflectance value and are assigned by order of increasing reflectance. In other words, the darker shades are closer to 000 and the lighter shades are closer to 999.1

1Reflectance does not take into account the sheen of the paint, which instead, is indicated by the first number. For example, FED-STD-595B Color 11999 is more visibly reflective than 31999 because of the sheen.

More Information

A complete history of the Federal 595 Standard can be found at http://www.colorserver.net as well as a comprehensive color browsing tool. In our Links section you will find a number of other useful resources regarding the Federal Standard 595.

Instructions

  • Search or browse for a 595B color below.
  • Hover over a color swatch to get a larger glimpse
  • Click on the number next to a color swatch to see NSNs associated with that color.